<A 


•iu 


A/. 


V'.'^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


2^ 


// 


-<^ 


fA 


#A 


1.0    !if 


I.I 


11.25 


JffillM  1-2^ 

•If  Ki^ 

If   1^    11 2.0 


2.2 


1.8 


M.  II  1.6 


llUlU^dpiUU 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREEf 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


4\^ 


iV 


iV 


<s 


*• 


0 

^^ 

^^fi 

^£ 

f  ^ 

i 

i 

i 

o 


\ 


CiHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibiiographiq 


ues 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


jre  manque 


□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommag^e 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur^e  et/ou  pelliculde 

□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Ln  titre  de  couvertui 

G     Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  giographiques  en  couieur 

□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bieue  ou  noi 

I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


noire) 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

d  with  other  material/ 
avec  d'autres  documents 


□    Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli^ 


D 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serree  peut  causer  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  interieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout^es 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  film^es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilme  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  ete  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-etre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m^thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu^s  ci-dessous. 


n~|    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  da  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagees 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurees  et/ou  pelliculees 


1/ 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d6colorees,  tachet6es  ou  piquees 


□Pages  detached/ 
Pages  detachees 


1/ 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


n 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  fi!m6es  d  nouveau  de  facon  a 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  riductirn  indiqu*  ci-dessous. 
^0^  14X 18X  22X 


26X 


12X 


16X 


J 


30X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


n 


32X 


The  cooy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

University  of  Saskatchewan 
Saskatoon 


L'exemplaire  filmA  fut  reproduit  grAce  di  la 
g^n^rosit^  de: 

University  of  Saskatchewan 
Saskatoon 


The  images  appearing  here  are  th^  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  Illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  ^^>  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  «t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet«  de  l'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimis  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  piat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  flimis  en  commenpant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'iliustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  sulvants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —^  signlfle  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signlfle  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Stre 
fllm6s  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichii,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  I'angle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'imagen  nicessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

G 


£THAN  ALLEN 


AKD   TUB 


GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


I 


4 

1 

4 


'4 


ETHAN  ALLEN 


AND    THB 


GliEEN-MOUNTAIN  HJ^EOES 


OF  '76. 


y/\^  a^^\y\^£{^h^ 


WITH    A    SKETCH   OF   TH« 


EARLY  HISTORF  OF  VERMONT. 


BY   HENRY   W.   DE   PUY 


ACTWOR  or   "LOUIS  NAPOLEON   AND 


HIS   TIMES,"    "  KIWSI'TH,   4C." 


BUFFALO: 
PHINNEY  &  CO.,  188  MAIN  STREET. 

1859. 


32495 


0 


Etaterod  ftxjording  to  Act  of  CotigreBS,  in  the  vcir  Ifl&A,  bjr 

PHINNEY   &   CO., 

In  :tae  Clerk's  cffice  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Northern  Dbitrict 

of  New  York. 


I 


CONTENTS. 


InTBdDUCTION 


11 


CHAPTER  1. 


Dinthct 


I 


EARLY  mSTOBY  OF  VERMONT. 

Early  Discoveries-Cartier  at  Hotchelaga-Interview  with  the  Na- 
tives-Return to  France-Champlain-His  Discoveriea-Hudson- 
The  Green  Mountains-The  Six  Natioos-The  Adirondacks-Fire 
Arras-Torture  of  a   Prisoner-War  between  the  French  and 
Indians-Corlear-French  Expedition  against  the  Mohawks-Firet 
English  PrisonerB  in  Canada-Montreal  attacked  by  the  Jndians- 
Massacre  at  Schenectady— French  Invasion  of  Now  Hampshire- 
Death  of  Major  Waldron-English  Expedition  against  Canada-Sir 
William  Phipps— Captain  John  Schuyler— French  Emulation  of 
Indian  Cruelty— Burning  of  Deerfield-REV.  John  WanAMS-The 
March  over  the  Green  Mountains— Death  of  Mrs.  Williams— The 
Forest  Sermon— The  Daring  Boy— Sufferings  of  the  Captives- 
Ransom  of  Rev.  Mr.  W   liams-The  Bell  of  St  Regis— Border 
Warfare-Colonial  War  with  Canada-English  Army  on  Lake 
Champlain-FIeet  on  the  St  Lawrence— Peace-First  Settlements 
in  Vermont  — Frontignac—Joliet— Exploration  of   the  Missis- 
sippi-LakeChamplain- Crown  Point— Progress  of  the  English 
and    French    Colonies- Fort    Dummer— Lovewell's    War— The 
Jesuit  Rolle-Siege  of  Louisbourg-Indian  Depredations-Mas- 
sacre at  Fort  Massach'isettij— Heroic  Defense  of  "Number  Four  ••— 
Captain  Hobbs— Saratoga— The  Abbe  Picquet— French  War  of 
1756— Sir  William  Johnson— Expedition  against  the  French- 
Johnson's  Victory  over  Dicskau— Indian  Depredations— Captain 
Johnson— Subjugation  of   Canada  again  undertaken  —  General 
Abercrombie— John   Stabk—His  Intrepidity— Montcalm's  Ad- 
vances toward  Fort  William  Henry— Massacre  at  Fort  Edwani— 
IssAEL   PuT.VAM— William  Pitt-Putnam's  Battle  with  Fin* 


vi 


CONTENTS. 

Abercrombio'8  Defeat  at  Ticonderoga— Capture  of  Putnam— Cru- 
elUea  inflicted  upon  him— Attempt  to  burn  hi m— Rescue— Th« 
Fair  Captive— Amherst  takes  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point- 
Destruction  of  the  Villiige  of  St  Francis— General  Wolfe— Hin 
Death  and  Victory  at  Quebec— Death  of  Montcalm— Vaudreuil 
defeated  at  Montreal— Canada  surrendered  to  the  English— Clow 
of  the  French  War, 13  to  ilfj 


CHAPTER  II 
THE   NEW-HAMPSHIRE   GRANTS. 

The  Peace  of  1763— Advance  of  the  English  Settlements— The 
Delius  Grant— Conflicting  Grants  by  the  British  Crown— Contro- 
versies arising  therefrom -New- York  Charter— Cprreepondenpe 
between  the  GoverDore  of  New  Hampshire  and  New  York- 
Charter  of  Bennington— Grants  of  Lands  by  the  Governor  of  New. 
Hampshire— Proclamation  of  Governor  Colden — Counter-Procla- 
mation— Appeal  to  the  King — An  Ambiguous  Decree — Excitement 
among  the  People— Agent  sent  to  England— Determination  Uf, 
rppel  the  New-York  Claimants— Ethan  Allen— His  early  Hie— 
He  becomes  interested  in  the  New-Hampshire  Grants — JournsU  of 
Iea  Allen- Scheme  of  u  Land  Speculator— The  Aliens  in  New 
York— Irq  Allen's  Foresig^htr— Adver.ture  with  a  Ghost— Skt^ 
Wa»nke— Pen?onal  Appearance  of  Warner— His  Favorite  Pur- 
suits— Capx.  Brmem^^r  Baerb — Is  a  Soldier  in  the  French  War 

Qemoves  to,  the  New-Hampshire  Grants — S^nauel  Robinsou — Set- 
tlement of   Bennington- Establishment  of  a    Church    and   a 
School — Jedediah  Dewey — Opprpssive  Measures  of  New  York — 
Indictment* — Convention  of  the  Settlers— Samuel  Robinson — The 
King's  Order— It   is  disregarded  by  Governor  Tryon— Procla- 
mation— Indictments— Ejectment  Trials,  ^t  Albany— Anecdote  of 
Allen — New  Attempt*  to  deprive  the  People  of  their  Property — 
Defensive  Me^siures— "  Hideous  Groans  "—The  Green -Mountain 
Bojf— R«w«rd  offered  for  the  Arrest  of  Allen— Allen'*  Prosplama- 
tion— Pii  Cofivage- Att^^ck  upon  Captain  Baker'9  House- Hia 
Capture  and  Rescue— Attempt  to  arrest  Warner— A  Rumored 
Invjision — Conciliation- Allen's  Protest— Joy  in  Bennington— 
Quarrel    Beoewed— Letter   to  Governor   Tryon— Thq  "  Beech- 
Seal  "—The  Scotch  Emigrants— Proceedings  in  Clarendon—"  1  hi? 


CONTENTS, 


Vll 


BIcxmI)-  Uw  "—Allen's  Opinion  of  it— Public  Meetings— Doctor 
Bamuel  Adamn— Benjamin  Hough— Allen's  Certificate— Trials  of 
the  I'loiieers— Tyranny  of  the  Government— Rescue  of  a  Pris- 
onei— Treason  Trial»-Mnrder  of  William  French— Dawn  of  tho 
^'"'"•^o" 116  tolas 


CHAPTER  III. 
ETHAN  ALLEN. 
Character  of  the  Patriots  of  '76— Ethan  Allen— His  Position— Re- 
Tiew  of  the  Causes  which  pioduced  the  Revolution— The  Stamp 
Act— The  Tea  Tax— The  First  Congress— Measures  of  Resist- 
ance— Contemplated    Enterprise  against  Ticonderoga  —  Ethan 
AUen  chosen  its    Leader— His    Plan— The    Boy-Guid^-Allen 
crosses   the   Lake— The    Fortress   attacked— Confusion  of   the 
Enemy— Allen  and  Delaplace— Surrender  of  the  Garrison— Crown 
Paint  an!  Skenesboroutrh  Secured— Arnold's  Naval  Victory- 
Allen  and    Congress— Allen  and    Parson  Dewey— Capture    of 
Allen— Naeeativk  of  Allen's  Captivitt- His  Account  of  the 
Victory  at  Ticonderoga— He  faUs  into  the  Hands  of  the  Enemy— 
A  Singular  Shield-Barbarity  of  Colonel  Prescott-Allen  put  in 
Irons-The  Tenpenny  Nail-Allen's  Challenge  of  Doctor  Dace- 
Magnanimity  of  Captain  Littlejohn-The  Duel-Roliance  upon 
Allen's  Honor— Cruel   Treatment  of  Prisoners— The  Petty  Ty- 
rant— Voyage  to  England— Allen's  SuflFerings— Landing  at  Fal- 
mouth-Expected  Execution  of  Allen-His  Letter  to  Congress- 
Reflections  upon  Death— Conversations  with  his  Visitors- Captain 
Symonds— The  Generous  Irishmen— Allen  sails  from  England— 
The  Voyage— Arrival  in  America— From  Bad  to  Worse— Meeting 
with  old  Enemies— Illness-Cruelty  and  Kindness— Mrs.  Blac- 
den-Rcmoval  to  New  York-A  Humane  Commander-Allen's 
Gratitudo-The  Prison   Ship-B-ttle  of  Bennington-Allen  on 
Parole— The  American  Prisoners  in  Now  York— Barbarity  of  the 
British— Incredible  Sufferings-Starvation,  Disease  and  Death— 
Washington— General  Howe-The  British  Bribe— Allen's  Reply- 
Allen  and  Rivington-Captain  Vandyke -Mr.  Miller-Majors 
Wells  and  Paine-Mr.  Fell— Evacuation  of  Ticonderoga-Battle 
of  Hubbardton— Triumph  of  Allen— Burgoyne's   Surrender— 
Burgoyne's  Proclamation- AUen  and  the  British  Officer— Allen's 
Liberation- His  Return  to  Vermont, 1 96  to  273 


VUl 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE   GREEN-MOUNTAIN    HERGES. 

Charter  of  the  Early  Scttlnrs  of  this  Country— Iiifluenco  of  their 
Example— Tiie  Puritans  and  the  Followprsof  Penn— Indian  Con- 
verts—Oi  it,'!  n  of  the  llevohition — Reflection  j  on  the  Character  and 
Services  of  Conf,'res8— Dkclar\tion   of  iNnKPEUDKNCK— Bunker 
liill— Ticonderoga— Can)paign  of  1775— General  Montgomery — 
General  Schuyler— Montgomery  enters  Canada— Death  of  Captain 
Baker— Ethan  Allkn— Siege  of   St  John's— Mutiny — James 
Livingston — Surrender  of  Fort   Chambly— Skth  Warner- The 
Green-Mountain  Rangers— Repulse  of  Carleton— Surrender  of  &t 
John's— Carleton'H  Retreat  from  Montreal— Extraordinary  March 
of  Arnol'l — The  British  retire  to  Quebec—     ;e  Assault  Begun— 
Death  of  Montgomery — The  CowKrdly  Commanders— Honors  to 
Montgomery— His  Character— His  Widow— Arnold— Major  Mor- 
gan—  Retreat  of  the  Americans — Reinforcements — Energy  of 
Warner— General  Gates— Naval    Preparations— Battle  on  Lako 
Chaniplain — Plans  of   the  British— Supplies  for  Ticonderoga — 
Close  of  the  Campaign  of  177r) — General  Carleton — The  Green- 
Mountain  Pledge — Burgoyne — The  Campaign  Opened— Evacua- 
tion of  Ticonderoga — General  St.  Clair — Retreat  of  the  Americans 
— Battle  jf  Hiibbardton — Advance  of  the  British — Jane  McCrea — 
Account  of   her  Murder — A  New-Hampshire  Patriot— General 
Stark — Movements  of   Burgoyne — The  Foray  upon   the  Green 
Mountains— Battle  at  Cambridge — Skirmishing — Rain — The  Bel- 
licose   Pareon  —  Stark's   Speech  —  Battle    cf  Bennington — The 
British  Reinforced — The  Victory  at  Bennington — General  Stark's 
Account — Colonels  Warner  and  Herrick — Honor  to  General  Stark's 
Genius  —  Important   Consequences  of  this  Victory — Censure  of 
Stark  in  Congress  changed  to  Thanks — General  Burgoync's  Opin- 
ion of  his  Antagonist  changed — Spoils  and  Trophids — Expenses 
of  Stark's  Brigade — Traveled  Cannon — British,  German  and  Tory 
Prisoners — Lions  and  Lambs — Curiosity  to  see  Lord  Napier — A 
Bereaved  Mother — General  Lincoln — Colonels  Brown  and  Johnson 
at  Lake  George — Brown's  Success-  Generals  G  .esand  Burgoyne 
— Engag  ment  at  Saratoga — British  Testimony  to  Amorican  Patri- 
otism— Tne  Spirit  of  '76 ;  Death  rather  than  Dishonor — Burgoyne's 
Difficulties  thicken— He  Surrenders — Medal  and  Thanks  to  General 


Co  NT  Kv  re. 

Oate«.-F«ntf,of  tho  Grcc.-Mountain  Boys-British  Rctiti    fron. 
Tirond,,rotra.  with  loss-Diffi.uIties  of  the  Inhabit^ants  of  the  New- 
Hampshire  (Jrants-Thei.  Need  of  a  Ooveri.ment^ -Declare  their 
Independence  as  a  State-Congress  refuses  to  receive  thom-Thty 
form  a  Constitution-Council  o"  Safcty-lt«  Officers  and  Powem 
-Ira  Allen  on  Ways  and  Means-A  Regiment  raised  and  paid 
from  Tory  Property-Governor  Chittenden-IncidenLs  of  his  Lifo 
-Ira  Allen  Secretary  of  State-His  Appearance  and  Services- 
Measures  of   Vermont  opposed-ExiiAx  AL'.K>f's   R.,t.irn-H'8 
Welcome-His  Military  Distinction-Is  Aj^ent  from  Vermont  to 
Congress- Governor    Clinton's    Proclam^cion-. General    Allen'B 
Counter-Proclamation-He  advocates  Law  and  Order-A  Hanging 
Postponod-Excitement  in  consequcr.ce-General  Allen's  Speech 
-"Somebody -hall  be  Hanged  "-Oeneial  Allen's  Quarrel  with 
h.s  Brother  Lev:--  -The  Tooth-drawing-CoLONEL  T  th  War:* eu- 
Dies  m  Poverty-Inscription  on  his  Tomb-His  Widow's  Petition 
to  Congress-Widow  Storey-Her  Secret  Retreat-Destruction  of 
Royalton-Purstit  of  the  Indians-Their  Kindness  to  Female 
Prisoners— Anecdotes  of  the  Indiana- Daring  of  Mrs.  Stone— Mre 
Barker  and  her  .nfantu- Adverse  Claims  for  Vermont  Territory- 
Congress    censures  Vermont-Vermont  extends  its   Territory- 
Poetry  for  the  Green-Mour.taineers-British  Overtures  to  Ethan 
Allen-Allen's  Letter  to  Congress-General  Haldimand  negotiates 
privately   with  Vermont   Leaders-Allen  and   Fay  mislead  the 
English-Their  Commission-General  flaldimand's  Instruction  to 
his  Agent-The  Agent's  Notes  of  Interviews-Ira  Allen's  Ingen- 
ions  Delays-Notice  of  his  Career-Washington  reconciles  Ver- 
mont and  Congress-Feeling  of  the  People-Difficulties  with  New 
York-Ethan  Allen  suppresses  Insurrection— His  Characteristic 
Proclamation-Vermont  admitted  an  Independent  State.  1789- 
Ethan  Allen's  Retirement-  -Becomes  an  Author— Character  of  his 
Book— A  popular  Anecdote  of  him  Contradicted— His  Integrity- 
Scene  in  Court>-Changes  his  Residence-Characteristic  Courtship 
of  his  Second  Wife— Amusing  Account  of  the  Marriage— "The 
Church  Militant  and  the  Church  Military-Allen's  Kindness- 
The  Lost  Children  Fouud-Tribnte  to  his  Patriotism-His  Death 
—Inscription  on  his  Tomb 279  to  42^ 


IX 


■4 


INTRODUCTION. 


«  Far  be  from  me  or  my  friends,"  says  a  distinguished  writer, 
"snch  frigid  philosophy,  as  may  conduct  us,  indifferent  and 
unmoved,  over  any  ground  that  has  been  dignified  by  wisdom, 
bravery  or  virtue.  The  man  is  little  to  be  envied  whose  patriot- 
ism would  not  gain  force  upon  the  plains  of  Marathon,  or  whose 
piety  would  not  grow  warm  among  the  ruins  of  lona."  And 
thus,  among  the  objects  that  attract  the  attention  of  people,  in 
aU  countries,  as  they  advance  in  civilization,  few  are  sought  with 
more  avidity  than  the  facts  concerning  their  eariy  history. 

Our   patriotism  is  wanned,  and  our  virtue  is  strengthened, 
while  gazing  upon  the  fields  where  the  blood  of  our  ancestora 
was  shed  in  defense  of  liberty,  or  while  perusing  the  story  of  the 
perils,  sufferings,  and  self-sacrificing  heroism  of  those  who  won 
our  national  independence.    Nothing,  therefore,  can  tend  more 
Btrongly  to  the  presei-vation  of  the  liberties  of  our  own  favored 
and  happy  country,  than  a  familiarity  with  the  deeds,  and  an 
admiration  for  the  character,  of   our  revolutionary  ancestoi^ 
Our  glorious  institutions  can  be  in  no  danger  while  there  is  a 
sentiment  of   patriotism  among  the  people,  which  glows  at 
the  ticital  of  our  iiountry's  renown,  and  which  cherishes  the 


Xll 


INTRODUCTION. 


memory  of  ite  heroes.  To  foster  this  feeling,  as  well  as  to  direct 
attention  to  a  class  of  patriots  whose  claims  to  the  grateful  re- 
membrance of  those  who  enjoy  the  blessings  of  free  institutions 
have  been  too  much  disregarded,  is  the  design  of  the  present 

volume. 

* 

No   portion   of   our  country  has  a   history  so   replete  with 
stirring  events  as  that  bordering  upon  Lake  Champlain.     Situ 
ated  between  the  French  province  of  Canada  and  the  English 
colonies,  and  simultaneously  claimed  by  each,  it  was,  for  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years,  the  grand  highway  of  their  warlike 
expeditions  against  each  other,  and  the  scene  upon  which  their 
bloodiest  and  most  hotly  contested  battles  were  fought.     Here 
many  of  the  heroes  of  the  American  Revolution  received  their 
first  experience  in  the  art  of  war,  and  achieved  that  renown  which 
afterward  placed  them  at  the  head  of  armies  whose  noble  pur- 
pose sanctified  their  resort  to  the  awful  arbitrament  of  battle. 
There,  too,  the  most  powerful  and  threatening  army  sent  out  to 
crush  the  freedom  of  this  country,  began  its  march  in  triumph, 
and  there  ended  it  in  a  most  disastrous  defeat.     The  history  of 
the  Green-Mountain  state,  which  stretches  along  the  east  shore 
of  Liike  Champlain,  is  so  closely  interwoven  with  that  of  the 
armies  which  have  trodden  its  soil,  and  of  the  wars  in  which 
they  were  engaged,  that  the  one  cannot  be  fairly  written  to  the 
exclusion  of  the  other. 

In  addition  to  the  usual  authorities  on  American  history  con- 
sulted in  the  preparation  of  this  volume,  especial  indebtedness 
to   the    following    is  acknowledged  —  blade's   Vermont   State 


i 
ft 

I 

'I 


■n 


1 

'I 

I 


INTRODUCTION. 


XlU 


Papers -Williams'  and  Thompson's   Histories  of  Vermont  — 
and   Chipman's   Lives  of  Warner,  Chittenden   and   Chipman. 
These  are  all  Vermont  authoi-?,.     Rev.  Samuel  Williams,  D.  D, 
author  of    the   first   History  of    Vermont,  was   the   grandson 
of  Rev.  John  Williams,  the  "Deerfield  Captive,"  and  father  of 
Charles  K.  Williams,  for  many  years  Chief  Justice  of  Vermont, 
and  recently  the  popular  governor  of  that  state.     He  was  one 
of  the  founders  and  the  principal  benefactor  of  the  University 
of  Vermont,  at  Buriington.    For  several  years  he  employed  hie 
talents,  almost  if  not  quite  gratuitously,  in  delivering  lectures  in 
natural  philosophy,  and  in  forwarding  the  progress  of  tho  Uni- 
versity.    With  only  four  hundred  and  eighty  dollars  raised  by 
subscription,  he  purchased  the  first  philosophical  apparatus  for 
the  institution.     That  this  apparatus  might   be  as  complete  aa 
possible,  Dr.  Williams  expended  the  money  in  the  most  frugal 
manner,  admitting  nothing  of  foreign  manufacture  which  eould 
be  made  at  home,  and  nothing  of  brass  where  it  might  be  made 
of  wood.     Dr.  Williams  had  removed  to  Vermont  as  eariy  as 
1777,  and  resided  at  Rutland.      In    1793,  he  published   his 
History  of  Vermont,  in  one  volume.     The  narrative  was  then 
brought  down  to  the  Revolutionary  war ;   but   the  work  was 
afterward  greatly  enlarged,  and,  in  1809,  was  published  in  two 
'olumes  of  about  five  hundred  pages  each.     The  history  of  the 
itate  was  brought  down  to  the  period  of  the  publication  of  the 
vork.     The  few  copies  of  it  yet  in  existence  are  highly  prize-L 
Ihe   copy  which   the  writer  of  tin's  obtained,  although  much 
vorn,  printed  on  coarse  paper,  and  roughly  bound,  cost  as  mucb 


1 1' 

ll  I 


(:! 


l     i 
V 

I  I; 


XIV 


INTRODUCTION. 


as  a  dozen  volumes  of  new  works  got  up  in  the  most  faultleM 
modern  style.  Rev.  Zadock  Thompson,  of  Burlington,  has  also 
published  a  large  work  of  six  hundred  pages  of  small  type, 
compiising  the  Natural  and  Civil  History  and  a  Gazetteer  of  the 
state.  It  is  a  work  of  great  research  and  vtilue,  and  as  a  large 
portion  of  it  can  be  of  especial  interest  to  Vermonters  only,  it 
should  hold  a  prominent  place  in  the  library  of  every  citizen  of 
that  state. 

The  compiler  is  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  several  gentlemen 
of  Vermont  for  impoilant  assistance  in  the  preparation  of  these 
pages.  From  the  Hon.  Charles  E.  Williams  was  received  a  fila 
of  the  "State  Banner,"  pubhshed  at  Bennington  in  1841,  and 
containing  a  series  of  "Historical  Readings,"  by  Hon.  Hiland 
Hall,  which  have  been  freely  used  in  the  portion  of  this  work 
relating  to  the  difficulties  between  New  York  and  the  New- 
Hampshire  Grants.  From  George  F.  Hc»ughton,  Esq.,  of  St 
Albans,  many  valuable  suggestions  were  derived,  as  well  as  a 
most  eloquent  address  on  the  Life  of  Seth  Warner,  delivered  by 
him  before  the  Vermont  legislature.  This  and  two  other  ad- 
dresses, by  Prof.  James  D.  Butler,  on  the  early  history  of  Vermont, 
have  supplied  these  pages  with  several  important  incidents  not 
found  elsewhere.  Chauncey  Goodrich,  Esq.,  of  Burlington,  and 
Brigadier-general  Ethan  Allen  Hitchcock,  (grandson  of  the  "  Hero 
of  Ticonderoga,"  )  also  communicated  facts  which  have  enriched 
the  present  work. 

Hon.  Henry  Stevens,  the  distinguished  antiquary  of  Vermont, 
courteously  placed  a  considerable  portion   of   his  large  and 


^1 


INTRODUCTION, 


it  faultlen 
a,  has  also 
mall  type, 
teer  of  the 
as  a  large 
rs  only,  it 
citizen  of 

yentlemen 
a  of  these 
ved  a  fila 
1841,  and 
Q.  Hiland 
this  work 
the  New- 
:j.,  of  St 
well  as  a 
ivered  by 
other  ad- 
Vermont, 
ients  not 
gton,  and 
he  "  Hero 
enriched 

Vermont, 
iige  and 


^^ 


invaluable  collection  of   State  Papers  at  the  disposal  of  tne 
compiler.     For  many  yeais,  Mr.  Stevens  has  been  indefatigable 
in  collecting  documents  concerning  the  early  history  of  Vermont. 
The  papers  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  state- the  coiTespond- 
ence  of  Revolutionary  officei-s-and  the  documents  in  the 
archives  of  the  nation,  or  copies  of  them,  have  been  treasured 
up  by  Mr.  Stevens.    Vermont  is  under  great  obligations  to  him 
for  hi,  services  in  searching  for  and  an-anging  official  papers  and 
other  testimony  touching  the  origin,  progress,  and  Enal  consum- 
mation of  the  struggle  which  resulted  in  giving  to  the  American 
Switzerland  that  proud  individuality  of  which  it  so  justly  boasts. 
Vermont  will  only  do  justice  to  itself,  its  founders,  and  to  Mr. 
Stevens,  when  these  records  of  a  state  whose  histoiy  is  more 
remarkable  than  that  of  any  other  in  the  union,  are  placed 
before  the  public.    When  this  is  done,  the  world  will  be  satisfied 
that  these  early  settlers  were  men  of  no  common  mould,  and 
their  services  will    be  better  understood  and  more  gratefully 
appreciated  than  at  present. 

For  a  mere  handful  of  men  to  resist  the  combined  efforts  of 
New  York  on  the  one  side  and  New  Hampshire  on  the  other, 
while  repulsed  if  not  rejected  by  the  home  government,  and' 
menaced  by  a  foreign  foe  — involved  the  exercise  of  no  ordinary 
sagacity,  and  an  amount  of  nerve  and  energy  with  which,  in 
this  day,  we  are  not  familiar.    But  so  it  was.    While  maintain- 
ing an  open  war  with  the  neighboring  states,  they  protected  the 
whole  line  of  our  frontier  by  keeping  on  terms  with  the  common 
-_,, „ije.  .^tme  wtue  tucy  rendered  moieeillcient  aid 


XVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


to  the  government  which  discarded  them,  than  either  of  the 
states  alluded  to.  The  official  correspondence  with  Washing' 
ton  —  comprised  in  the  Papere  of  Mr.  Stevens — goes  to 
demonstrate  this  beyond  a  doubt 

The  engraving  of  the  Heroic  Statue  of  Gen.  Ethan  Allen  will 
be  regarded  as  an  attractive  feature  of  the  present  volume.  The 
Statue  is  the  p'-oduction  of  B.  H.  Kinney  Esq.,  a  young  and  self- 
taught  Vermont  artist ;  and,  although  his  first  great  undertaking,  is 
of  promising  excellence,  and  gives  evidence  of  a  high  order  of  art- 
istic ability.  It  is  the  length  and  breadth,  the  depth  and  power  of 
Ethan  Allen,  morally  and  historically  considered,  and  in  his  phys- 
ical  no  less  than  in  his  intellectual  characteristics, —  an  artistic 
realization  of  one  of  the  most  practical  and  common-sense 
characters  that  ever  lived.  Those  who  look  upon  it  are  at  once 
convinced  that  it  is  an  actual  likeness  of  the  Hero  of  Ticonde- 
roga.  This  is  the  best  evidence  of  the  genius  of  the  sculptor, 
that  his  work  is  invariably  regarded  as  a  truthful  representation. 
The  statue  is  of  heroic  size  —  one-third  larger  than  life  —  and 
represents  the  subject  in  a  bold,  commanding  attitude ;  his  camp 
cloak  thrown  from  his  left  and  resting  on  his  right  shoulder  •  his 
hand  grasping  the  sword  at  his  side;  and  his  whole  expression 
resolute  and  full  of  energy  —  as  if  he  had  just  uttered  those 
memo'-able  words  at  Ticonderoga,  and  intended  to  see  his 
demands  complied  with  at  all  hazards.  The  engraving  is  the 
more  valuable  as  it  is  the  only  picture  of  the  statue  that  the 
sculptor  has  permitted  to  be  engraved.  As  the  reader  may  be 
intere.'^ted  to  know  something  more  of  Mr.  Kinney,  the  foUowintj 


INTRODUCTION. 


XVU 


notice  of  his  career,  as  furnished  by  himself  in  a  private  letter 
to  a  friend,  will  appropriately  close  this  notice  of  his  statue: 

"I  was  bred,  from  infancy  to  manhood,  in  the  town  of  Sunderland, 

Bennington  county,  Vermont  — the  town   in  which   Ethan  Allen  first 

lived,  and  which  for  nearly  twenty  years  was  his  residence.    During 

my  boyhood  I  listened  to  the  tales  respecting  the  great  hero  of  the  Green 

MniinHin«.  with  those  thrilling  emotions  and  the  wild  delight  which  are 

only  known  to  mountaineers.    Many  were  the  acts  of  "desperate  valor," 

performed   by  my  schoolmates  and  myself,  in  sham  fights   emulating 

the  daring  deeds  of   the  Green-Mountain   Heroes  of  '76.    And   the 

impression  which  I  received  at  that  time  of  tho  noble  spirit  of  patriotism 

which  stimulated  the  fearless  and  true-hearted  Hero  of  Ticonderoga,  haa 

grown  brighter  and  brighter  as  I  have  grown  to  yeare  of  manhood,  and 

witnessed  the  neglect  of  duty  to  their  country,  in  the  pursuit  of  selfish 

ends,  so  characteristic  of  a  considerable  portion  of  the  prominent  men 

of  this  age.    This  is  the  reason  of  my  selecting  Ethax  Allen  as  the  first 

great  subject  of  my  labors  in  my   favorite  art." 


I 


!  'i» 


LIBRARY 


J^-^SKATCH-*' 


N'^^ 


MOUNTAIN  HEKOES. 


CHAPTER  I. 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  VERMONT, 
the  savages,  of  murderous  soul, 


In  painted  bands,  dark  to  the  combat  roll. 
With  midnight  orgies,  by  the  gloomy  shade, 
On  the  pale  victim  point  the  reeking  blade  ; 
Or  cause  the  hamlet,  lulled  in  deep  repose. 
No  more  to  wake,  or  wake  to  ceaseless  woes." 

HuMPHRKYB. 

Op  the  adventurous  band  of  navigators,  who,  early 
in  the  sixteenth  century,  sailed  westward  in  the  wake 
of  those  frail  caravels,  the  Mina,  Pinta,  and  Santa 
Maria,  James  Cartier,  a  Frenchman,  was  the  first  to 
explore  the  interior  of  the  vast  continent  to  which 
Columbus  had  led  the  way.  While  sailing  along  the 
Atlantic  coast,  in  1534,  in  search  of  a  passage  to  China, 
he  discovered  the  mouth  of  a  great  river,  to  which  he 
subsequently  gave  the  name  of  "St.  Lawrence."*  The 
following  spring,  in  the  belief  that  the  St.  Lawicnce 
was  the  desired  channel  to  the  East  Indies,  a  larger  ex- 
pedition was  equipped,  which  Cartier  conducted  direct 
to  this  noble  stream,  and  sailed  two  hundred  leagues 
inland.    There  the  navigation  was  obstructed  by  «a 

d«!  nnl'  r*""^  '"  ^'""'"  °^  ^^'  ^"'"'  ^^^  ^««tival  occurred  on  th. 
%  (10th  August)  of  its  discovery. 


if  11 


ri 


20  ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GiUiEN-MoCNTAIN  I£EK0E8. 

great  and  swift  fall."  At  this  point,  Cartier  found  a 
large  Indian  village,  bearing  the  name  of  llochelaga. 
The  population  was  more  numerous,  the  wigwams 
were  more  substantuillj  built,  and  the  town  was  more 
strongly  fortified  than  any  other  occupied  by  the  abo- 
rigines, of  which  the  early  settlers  of  the  country  have 
given  a  description.  Cartier  conciliated  the  natives  by 
})re8ent8  of  hatchets,  beads  and  rings  —  articles  more 
magnificent  than  any  of  which  they  had  previously  had 
a  conception  —  and  they  regarded  him  and  his  associ- 
ates as  celestial  beings.  To  Cartier  all  was  so  new  and 
strange,  that  he  almost  deemed  himself  transported  to 
some  land  of  enchantment.  He  erected  a  fort  where 
the  city  of  Montreal  now  stands,  calling  it,  in  honor  of 
his  king,  Mount  Royal.  There  he  passed  the  winter, 
formed  alliances  with  the  Indians,  and  took  formal  pos- 
session of  the  country,  which  he  named  New  France. 
Ascending  the  hill  which  towered  above  his  fortress, 
and  overlooked  the  country  for  many  miles  around,  he 
was  enraptured  with  the  scene  upon  which  he  gazed. 
Before  him  the  mighty  St.  Lawrence,  coming  solemnly 
from  an  unknown  land,  rolled  on  majestically  toward 
the  ocean  ;  the  distant  horizon  was  bounded  by  the  lofty 
mountains  of  Vermont,*  crowned  with  perpetual  ver- 
dure ;  while  illimitable  forests,  robed  in  the  gorgeous 
hues  of  autumn,  were  spread  out  before  him  in  every 
direction.  Donnacona,  the  Indian  king  who  conducted 
him  to  the  summit  of  the  hill,  informed  him  that  he 
might  sail  westward  on  the  great  river,  for  three 
moons  —  passing    through   several    immense   lakes  — 

*  So  called  when  the  state  was  organized,  from  two  French  wonls^ 
verd,  green,  and  mont,  mountain. 


ii 


if 


D1SU)VB:I£IKS  of  caivtier. 


21 


without  reiichiiig  itb  bource;  that  the  river  had  its 
origin  in  a  sea  of  frebh  water  to  which  no  limits  wero 
known.  Far  to  tlie  south-west,  he  continued,  there  was 
another  great  river,*  which  ran  through  a  country 
where  there  was  no  ice  or  enow  ;  to  the  north,  there 
was  a  large  inland  sea  of  salt  water,f  extending  to  a 
region  of  perpetual  ice ;  while  southward  there  were 
rivers  and  smaller  lakes,  penetrating  a  beautiful  and 
fertile  country,  belonging  to  a  powerful  and  warlike 
nation  called  the  Iroquois. 

The  next  spring,  Cartier,  taking  with  him  Donna- 
cona  and  several  of  the  natives,  returned  to  France, 
and  represented  to  the  king  the  advantages  that  would 
result  from  a  settlement  in  tiiis  country,  principally 
by  means  of  the  fur  trade  ;  but  the  fallacious  opinion 
then  prevalent  among  all  the  nations  of  Europe,  that 
such  countries  only  as  produced  gold  and  silver  wero 
worth  the  possession,  had  such  influence  on  the  mon- 
arch, that  he  slighted  the  judicious  advice  of  Cartier, 
and   deferred  making  any  establishment  in  Canada. 
But,  although  this  object  was  generally  neglected,  some 
individuals  entertained  just  views  of  its  importance; 
and  among  the  most  zealous  for  prosecuting  discov- 
eries and  making  a  settlement  there,  was  Koberval,  a 
nobleman  of  Picardy.    The  king,  at  length  convinced 
of  the  expediency  of  the  measure,  resolved  to  send 
Cartier,  accompanied  by  this  noblemun,  again  to  Can- 
ada.   The  expedition  was  undertaken  in  1540,  and  an 
attempt  was  made  to  found  a  colony ;   but  in  the 
course  of  a  year  or  two,  the  enterprise  was  abandoned. 
-   ^.   „„,^  .>r-^ivcii  up,  ana  ivr  upward  of  half  a 

•  Thi-  0).i.,.  t  Hiidsi.1,'- 


IMV. 


22 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  ORKKN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


century,  the  French  made  no  further  attempt  to  estab- 
lish themselves  on  the  St.  Lawrence. 

In  1600,  one  Chauvin,  a  commander  in  the  French 
navy,  made  a  voyage  to  Canada,  from  which  he  re- 
turned, with  a  profitable  cargo  of  furs.  The  public 
now  began  to  turn  more  attention  to  this  country.  An 
armament  was  equipped,  and  the  command  given  to 
PoRtgran.  He  sailed  in  1603.  Five  years  afterward, 
Samuel  de  Champlair,  who  had  accornmnied  Pont- 
gran's  expedition,  founded  the  city  of  Quebec*  In 
1609,  accompanied  by  several  friendly  Indians,  he 
proceeded  to  the  locality  described  by  Cartier.  He 
afterward  sailed  up  the  Richelieu  or  Sorel  river,  and 
entered  a  lake  to  which  he  gave  his  own  name.f  He 
also  visited  Lake  George,  which,  from  the  extreme 
purity  of  its  waters,  he  called  St.  Sacrament.:!-  It  is 
inferred  from  his  own  narrative,  that  he  then  proceeded 
across  the  country,  and  touched  the  Hudson  river  at 
Glen*8  Falls.  During  the  same  season,  Henry  Hudson 
sailed  up  the  river  to  which  his  name  is  given,  as  far 
as  Albany.  Possibly,  at  the  same  time  that  Champlain 
was  resting  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Hudson,  the 
English  navigator  was  encamped  scarcely  forty  miles 
below.  Strange  that  tv.o  adventurers,  in  the  service 
of  different  sovereigns,  rnlirijc    three  thousand   miles 

•  This  was  the  original  Indian  name,  signifying  narrow,  be<'auso 
the  St  Lawrence,  which,  from  that  point  to  the  ocean,  is  from  ten  to 
fifteen  miles  wide,  is  there  reduced  to  a  width  of  about  one  mile. 

t  The  Indian  name  of  Lake  Champlain  was  Cahaideri-Guarurite,  sig- 
nifying the  mouth  or  door  of  the  country.  Anotter  Indian  liaiile  was 
Pefawa-Boiiqu'.,  signifying  alternate  land    and  water. 

t  Tlie  original  Indiiin  name  wns  Horicon,  meaning  Stiver  Water.  It 
was  also  called  Cimaitleri-ott,  m  The  Tan'  of  iht  Jjoke. 


■I 


to  estab- 

le  French 
;h  he  re- 
le  public 
itry.    An 

given  to 
fterward, 
ed  Pont- 
)ec.*  In 
jians,  be 
;ier.  He 
iver,  and 
le.f    Ho 

extreme 
4  It  is 
roceeded 

river  at 

Hudson 
3n,  as  far 
laraplain 
dson, the 
rty  miles 
3  service 
id   miles 

IB,  beraiiso 
from  ten  to 
Dile. 

ariijite,  sig* 
liantc  was 

Water.    It 


CUAMPLAIN  AND  HUDSON. 


9» 


awajr,  and  approacliing  from  different  points  of  the 
compass,  should  so  nearly  meet  in  the  vast  forests 
of  wild  America —each  exploring  a  part  of  the  conti- 
nent  never  before  traversed  by  Europeans.  Strange, 
too,  that  the  vicinity  where  thep:  adventurers  so  nearly 
met,  should,  for  almost  a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  bo 
the  boundary  between  the  nations  respectively  repre- 
sented by  them,  and  the  scene  of  their  frequent  and 
bloody  conflicts  for  supremacy. 

Although  that  beautiful  portion  of  Vermont  border- 
ing  on  Lake  Champlain  was  thus  earlv  explored,  and 
although   settlements  were  made  in "  its  immediate 
vicinity,  by  the  Dutch   at  Albany  in  1613  — by  the 
English  at  Springfield,  on  the  Connecticut,  in  1635- 
and  by  the  French  at  Montreal  in  1640,  the  whites  did 
not  permanently  occupy  any  portion  of  the  territory 
comprised  in  the  present  boundaries  of  the  State,  until 
the  year  1724.    Situated   between  the  settlements  of 
the  French  on  the  one  hand,  and  those  of  the  English 
on  the  other,  it  was  constantly  exposed  to  the  incur- 
sions and  depredations  of  both,  in  the  almost  inces- 
sant warfare  maintained   between  them.    The  dense 
forests  of  the  Green  Mountains    became  the  favorite 
lurking  places  of  the  wielders  of  the  tomahawk,  and 
resounded  with  the  war-whoop  of  those  savages  who 
were  willing  to  be  allies  for  either  of  the  contending 
parties.    They  were  traversed  by  the  prisoners  taken 
in  the  French  wars,  and  were  witnesses  of  their  heroism 
and  of  their  sufferings.    For  these  reasons,  actual  set- 
tlements were  perilous  end  impracticable.    It  was  a 
disiauted  ground  between  the  English  and  the  French, 
<-  wMch  many  a  guerilla  battle  was  fought.      And 


24 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


tnu8  the  history  of  Yermont  is  so  closely  interwoven 
with  that  of  the  legiocs  adjacent,  that  it  will  be  neces- 
sary, in  the  progress  of  this  narrative,  in  ordei  to 
exhibit  a  complete  view  of  the  transactions  in  whicn 
Vermont  was  interested,  or  in  which  its  early  heroes 
bore  a  distinguished  part,  often  to  carry  forward  an 
account  of  events  which  transpired  beyond  the  gec*- 
graphical  limits  of  the  state. 

In  his  expedition  across  the  lake  which  bears  hi» 
name,  Cham  plain  was  accompanied  by  only  two 
Frenchmen  —  the  balance  of  the  party,  amounting  to 
about  sixty,  were  Huroi.  and  Algonquin  warriors,  who 
had  determined  on  a  hostile  excursion  into  the  terri- 
tory of  the  Iroquois,  or,  as  they  were  afterward  desig 
nated  by  the  English,  the  Five  Kations. 

This  federal  association  is  said  to  have  derived  its 
origin  from  the  most  remote  antiquity  ;  and,  as  the 
name  imports,  it  comprehended  five  Indian  nations,  of 
which  the  Mohawks  have  obtained  the  most  lasting  re- 
nown, and  which  were  confederated,  on  terms  of  the 
strictest  equality,  in  a  perpetual  alliance,  for  united 
conquest  and  mutual  defense.  The  members  of  tliis 
united  body  reckoned  themselves  superior  to  all  tlie 
rest  of  mankind,  and  the  distinctive  appellation  which 
they  adopted*  was  expressive  of  this  opinion.  But  the 
principles  of  their  confederacy  displayed  far  more  pol- 
icy and  refinement  than  we  might  expect  from  the  arro 
gance  of  their  barbarous  name.  They  had  embraced 
the  Roman  practice,  of  increasing  their  strength  by 
incorporating  the  people  of  other  nations  with  them- 
ggjygg^     After  ever^  conouest  of  an  enemy-  when  they 

"   Ongue-Honwe, —  tbat  is,  "  Men  surpassing  all  otbora" 


■1 

I 


t 


ES. 

;erwoven 
be  neces- 
ordei  to 
in  whicn 
ly  heroes 
ward  aij 
the  gec»- 

jearB  his 
m\j  two 
mting  to 
iors,  who 
the  terri- 
rd  desig 

rived  its 
1,  as  the 
itions,  of 
isting  re- 
18  of  the 
)r  united 
'8  of  til  is 
0  all  tlie 
on  which 
But  the 
nore  pol- 
tlie  arro- 
smbraced 
jngth  by 
th  them- 
lien  they 

jra" 


THE  FIVE  NATIONS. 


25 


had  indulged  their  revenge  by  some  cruel  executions 
they  exercised  their  usual  policy,  in  the  adoption  of' 
the  remaining  captives  ;  and  frequently  with  so  much 
advantage,  that  some  of  their  most  distinguished  sa- 
chems and  captains,  were  derived  from  defeated  and 
adopted  foes.    Each  nation  had  its  own  separate  repub- 
lican constitution,  in  which  rank  and  office  were  claimed 
only  by  age,  procured  only  by  merit,  and  enjoyed  but 
by  the  tenure  of  public  esteem.     In  no  community  was 
age  accorded   more  respect,  or  youth   endowed  with 
gTeuter  beauty.*     The  people  of  the  several  nations, 
and  especially  the  Mohawks,  were  distinguished  by  the 
usual  Indian  qualities  of  attachment  to  liberty,  forti- 
tude in  the  endurance  of  pain,  and  preference  of  craft 
and  stratagem  to  undisguised  operations  in  war,t  and 
by  a  more  than  usual  degree  of  perseverance,  resolution, 
and  active  inti-epidity.     Almost  an  the  tribes  around 
this  people,  and  even  many  at  a  great  distance,  who 
were  not  included  in  their  confederacy,  acknowledged 
a   subjection    to   it,  paid    a   tribute  which    two   aged 
sachems  were  annually  deputed  to  collect,  t  and  were 
restrained  from  making  war  or  peace  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  Five  Nations.     It  was  the  policy  of  all  the 

*  Such  was  tlie  efficacy  of  the  Indian  mode  of  life,  in  developing,  the 
finer  proportions  of  which  the  human  frame  is  susceptible,  that,  wlien  tl.o 
statue  of  the  Apollo-Belvidere  was  beheld,  for  the  first  time,  by  Beujamin 
West,  the  distinguished  American  painter,  he  started  at  the  u.iexpeoted 
hkeness,  a.id  exclaim^l,  "  How  like  it  is  to  a  young  Mohawk  wairior  !  " 

t  In  this  peculiarity  most  of  the  Indian  tribes  resembled  the  ancient 
Spartans;  as  they  did  also  in  the  diligence  with  which  they  cultivated 
conciseness  of  speech. 

!  "Iliave  often  had  opportunity  to  observe  what  anxiety  the  poor  In- 
diauM  were  under,  while  these  two  old  men  remained  in  that  ..art  of  tU 


26 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  G  KEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


chiefs  to  affect  superior  purity,  and  to  distribute  among 
the  people  their  own  share  of  tribute  and  plunder. 
All  matters  of  common  concernment  were  transacted 
in  general  meetings  of  the  sachems  of  each  nation; 
and  the  mfluence  of  time,  aided  by  a  long  course  of 
judicious  policy  and  victorious  enterprise,  had  com- 
pletely succeeded  in  causing  the  federal  character  and 
eentiinents  to  prevail  over  the  peculiarities  of  their  sub- 
ordinate national  associations.  When,  at  a  period 
subsequent  to  the  first  visit  of  the  Europeans,  the  Tus- 
carora  tribe  was  vanquished,  they  were  permitted  to 
revive  their  broken  estate,  by  ingrafting  it  on  this 
powerful  confederacy,  by  being  associated  as  a  new 
member  of  the  general  union,  instead  of  being  diffused 
and  losing  their  identity  among  the  other  tribes,  and 
the  confederacy  thereafter  obtained  the  name  of  the 
Six  ]Srations.  Both  the  French  and  English  writers, 
who  have  treated  of  the  character  or  affairs  of  this 
people,  have  concurred  in  describing  them  as  at  once 
the  most  judicious  and  politic  of  the  native  powers, 
and  the  most  fierce  and  formidable  of  the  jiative 
inhabitants  of  America. 

When  the  French  under  Champlain  settled  in  Can- 
ada, they  found  the  Five  Xations  engaged  in  a  bloody 
war  with  the  powerful  tribe  of  Adirondacks,  by  whom 
'hey  had  been  driven  from  their  original  possessions 
.viound  Montreal,  and  between  the  Connecticut  river 
and  Lake  Champlain,  now  the  state  of  Vermont,  and 
forced  to  seek  an  asylum  in  the  region  bounding  on 

coTintiy  wLere  I  was.  An  old  Mohawk  sachem,  in  a  poor  blanket,  and 
dirty  Hhirt,  may  be  seen  issuing  his  ov<\er  with  as  arbitrary  an  authority 
i:a  .i  Ronian  dictafor."—  Golden. 


I  *  i. 


ROES. 

)ute  among 
i  plunder, 
transacted 
oh  nation ; 
course  of 
had  com- 
iracter  and 
f  their  sub- 
i  a  period 
IS,  the  Tus- 
irmitted  to 
it  on  this 
as  a  new 
ig  diffused 
tribes,  and 
me  of  the 
3h  writers, 
irs  of  this 
as  at  once 
;^e  powers, 
the  jiative 

3d  in  Can- 
Q  a  bloody 
,  by  whom 
possessions 
ticut  river 
mont,  and 
unding  on 

blanket,  and 


THE  FirK  NATIONS. 


37 


Lake  Ontario  and  Ihe  Mohawk  river.    The  Five  ^ 
tions,  however,  were  regaining  their  lost  ground   la 
ad  compelled  the  Adirondacks  to  ily  for  sff^bl^ 
the  strait  where  Quebec  is  built.     But  the  tide  of  I 
cess  was  suddenly  turned  by  the  arrival  of  Champ.l 
who   naturally  joined   the   Adirondacks,  became     o 

ir  ot'  T  '"7 '-''''' ""''' '''  ^^-  ^  t 

01    ess  ot   Ticonderoga   was   afterward   erected    the 
Indians,   with   whom   Champlain   was  exploring 
country,  encountered  a  body  of  .two  hundred  Iroou    s 
who  were  on  their  way  down  the  lake  on  a  warTxpe 
dition.    Loud  shouts  at  once  arose  from  both  parties 
as  they  snatched  up  their  weapons  and  prepared  2 
action.    Cli^mplain  and  the  two  Frenchmen  with  him 
each  armed  with  an  arquebuse,^  participated  in  ^e 
conflic    and  as  the  Iroquois  had  no  previous  know! 

ge  ot  tire-arms,  they  soon  fled  in  dismay,  leavill 
fifty  warriors  dead  on  the  field,  while  ten  or  twe Iv! 
prisoners  were  captured  by  the  Adirondacks.f  Ui 
engaged  in  this  expedition  went  to  their  homes  highly 

•  "A  sort  of  hand-gun  ;  a  species  of  fire-arms  ancientiv  n«o^      i.-  .. 
was  cocked  with  a  wheel.    It  carried  a  ball  that  "2  T^^^;  '^' 
ounce..    A  larger  kind,  used  in  fortresses,  ca.ied  a  b  ifonhr 
and  a  half."  -  Encyclopedia.  ^^'^^  ''"'^''^ 

t  If.  on  this  occasion,  the  Indians  were  for  the  first  time  witnesses  of 
the  dea  i,  effect  of  fire-arm,  the  French  were  cqnall,  surpi  ^Tyt 
en  .sh  crnelt,es  inflicted  by  the  Indian  warrio.  npon  th^eir^^^is'' 
After  p,-ococd,ng  about  eight  leagues  down  the  lake."  says  DrFih 
«n  h,s  admirable  history  of  Washington  county   "they  lanc^       I 
-ghtfall ;  and,  taking  one  of  the  prisLers,  mado'a  .  e  ch      tl  T 
bra,d.ng  him  with  the  barbarities  which  he  and  his  people  had         ^' 
trated  in  the  war  without  showing  mercy  in  any  il^L^l^r 
h,m.  ,hat  .t  would  now  devolve  on  him  to  submit  to  the  same  destinv 
Thev  then  told  h.m  to  .ng  if  he  had  any  courage  :  this  .e  coUtc^' 


as 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNl^xIN  HEROES. 


Uf 


1 1  k 
ll  I  ( 


pleased  with  Champlain,  and  from  this  time  onward, 
their  several  tribes  were  firmly  attached  to  the  French 
and  their  interests.'^ 

doing,  but  in  the  most  sad  and  dolorous  tones.  A  fire  had  been  previ- 
ously kindled,  and  was  now  burning  briskly.  Each  Indian  took  from 
it  a  brand,  and  commenced  burning  the  skin  of  the  poor  creature,  a  lit- 
tle at  a  time,  to  make  him  suffer  longer  torment  Remitting  this  at  times, 
they  would  then  throw  him  on  his  back  in  the  water.  Afterward,  pull- 
ing oflf  his  finger-nails,  they  put  hot  ashes  or.  the  ends  of  his  fingers. 
Next,  they  tore  the  scalp  from  the  top  of  his  head,  and  then  dropped 
melted  pitch  upon  the  naked  /jkull.  They  then  pierced  holes  through 
his  arms  near  the  wrists,  and  with  sticks  drew  out  therefrom  the  sinews 
and  nerves,  forcibly  pulling  upon  them,  until  they  were  rent  asunder. 
Strange  cries  at  times  were  uttered  by  this  miserable  creature  ;  yet,  dur- 
ing the  whole  of  the  horrid  performance,  he  was  so  firm  and  unshaken, 
that  one  would  hav-e  said  he  did  not  feel  any  pain.  The  Indians  urged 
Champlain  to  take  a  firebrand,  and  join  them  in  their  employment. 
But  he  remonstrated  with  them,  telling  them  he  was  unused  to  such 
cruelties  —  that  his  people  only  shot  at  their  enemies  with  their  guns, 
and  it  they  would  only  permit  him  to  have  one  shot  at  the  captive  with 
his  arquebuse,  it  was  all  he  would  ask.  They  would  not  consent  to 
this ;  and,  unable  longer  to  endure  the  sight,  he  turned  away  with  dis- 
gust. Perceiving  his  disquietude,  they  called  him  back,  telling  him  to 
do  as  he  had  desired.  He  hereupon  discharged  his  arquebuse  at  the 
sufferer  with  such  effect,  that,  as  Charlevoix  intimates  in  describing  this 
scene,  he  had  no  occasion  for  desiring  a  second  shot  Even  now  that 
their  victim  was  dead,  they  were  not  satisfied,  but,  ripping  him  open, 
they  threw  his  entrails  into  the  lake,  and  then  cut  off  his  head,  arms 
and  legs,  preserving  only  his  scalp,  which  they  added  to  the  number 
they  had  taken  from  those  who  had  been  killed  in  the  battle.  More 
atrocious  still,  they  took  his  heart,  and  cutting  it  into  a  number  of  slices, 
gave  a  piece  to  one  of  his  own  brothers,  and  to  each  of  the  other  pris- 
oners, ordering  them  to  eat  it  These  put  it  into  their  mouths,  but  were 
unable  to  swallow  it;  whereupon,  some  of  the  Algonquin  Indians  who 
guarded  the  prisonere,  allowed  them  to  spit  out  the  whole  and  throw  it 
into  the  water." 

*  Chaiupiaiu  died  at  Quebec,  in  December.  1634  —  one  hundred  years 
aitor  Cartior  hid  discoverod   the  St  Lawrence.    lie  was  governor  of 


FRENCH  WARFARE  WITH  THE  1^D1A^8.  29 

From  this  period,  an  implacable  war  was  carried  on 
by  the  Iroquois  against  the  Canadian  settlements  on 
the  St.  Lawrence.  For  a  time,  the  conduct,  the  bravery, 
and  especially  the  fire-arms  of  the  French,  proved  an 
overmatch  ior  the  skill  and  intrepidity  of  the  Five  Na- 
tions, who  were  defeated  in  several  battles,  and  reduced 
to  great  distress.  It  was  at  this  critical  juncture,  that 
the  first  Dutch  ship  arrived  in  the  Hudson  river,  with 
the  colonists  who  established  themselves  at  Albany. 
The  Iroquois,  easily  procuring  from  these  neighbors  a 
supply  of  that  species  of  arras  to  which  alone  their 
enemies  had  been  indebted  for  their  superiority,  re- 
vived the  war  with  so  much  impetuosity  and  success, 
that  the  nation  of  the  Adirondacks  was  completely  an- 
nihilated ;  and  the  French  too  late  discovered,  that  they 
had   espoused   the  fortunes   of  the   weaker  people.* 

Canada  from  1610  until  the  time  of  his  death,  with  the  exception  of 
three  years,  during  which  period  the  English  had  possession  of  the 
country.  By  his  arduous  efforts,  Quebec,  as  early  as  1626,  began  to 
asstime  the  appearance  of  a  city.  That  year  a  stone  fortress  was  built, 
and  tiie  colony  was  rapidly  growing  into  power.  Champlain  died  after 
having  been  more  than  thirty  years  a  resident  of  Canada.  Ho  is  repre- 
sented by  the  writers  of  that  time,  as  a  man  of  much  penetration,  activ- 
ity and  intrepidity.  He  could  not  have  succeeded  in  establishing  a  new 
city  and  colony  in  the  midst  of  a  populous,  warlike,  and  savage  nation, 
if  he  had  lacked  great  ability,  enterprise  and  courage.  He  was  a  man 
of  eminent  piety,  and  zealous  in  the  propagation  of  the  Catholic  faith. 
He  often  said,  "  the  salvation  of  one  soul  was  of  more  value  than  the 
conquest  of  an  empire." 

*  One  of  the  stratagems  of  the  Five  Nations  is  worthy  of  mention. 
At  one  time  they  sent  the  French  a  proposal  for  a  peace,  to  which  the 
latter  readily  inclined,  and  requested  the  Indians  to  receive  a  deputation 
of  Jesuits,  whose  exertions,  it  was  expected,  would  conciliate  their  sin- 
cere friendship.  The  Five  Nations  willingly  agreed,  and  desired  to  see 
the  priests  immediately  ;  but  the  instant  they  got  hold  of  them  they 


30 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


Hence  originated  the  mutual  dread  and  enmity  that  so 
long  subsisted  between  the  French  and  confederated 
Indians,  and  entailed  so  many  calamities  upon  both. 

The  French  colony,  being  in  extreme  distress,  solic- 
ited aid  from  the  mother  country.  Two  regiments 
were  sent  out  by  the  king,  and  thus  strengthened, 
Courcelles,  governor  of  Canada,  dispatched  a  party  by 
the  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  in  the  winter  of  1665,  to 
attack  the  Five  Nations.  The  French,  less  accust  .)med 
to  the  climate,  and  less  acquainted  with  the  country 
than  their  savage  enemies,  attempted  vainly  to  imitate 
their  rapid  and  secret  movements.  They  lost  their  way 
among  the  wastes  of  snow,  and  often  enduring  the 
greatest  misery,  arrived,  without  knowing  where  they 
were,  at  the  village  of  Schenectady,  which  a  Dutch- 
man of  consideration,  named  Corlear,  had  recently 
founded.  The  French,  exhausted  and  stupefied  with 
cold  and  hunger,  resembled  rather  an  army  of  beggars, 
than  of  hostile  invaders,  and  would  have  fallen  an  easy 
prey  to  a  body  of  Indians  who  were  in  the  village,  if 
Corlear,  touched  with  compassion  at  their  miserable 
appearance,  had  not  employed  both  influence  and  arti- 
fice with  the  Indians,  to  persuade  them  to  spare  their 
unfortunate  enemies,  and  depart  to  defend  their  own 
people,  against  a  more  formidable  attack  in  a  difierent 
quarter,  which  he  led  them  to  expect.  Whi  n  the  In- 
dians were  gone,  Corlear  and  his  townsmen  gave  re- 
freshments to  the  famishing  Frenchmen,  and  supplied 
them  with  provisions  and  other  necessaries  to  carry 


marched  to  attack  the  Indian  allies  of  the  French,  and  taking  the  priests 
with  them  as  hostages,  to  enforce  the  neutrality  of  tlieir  countrymen,  gavo 
che  Adirondacks  a  signal  defeat. 


ES. 


FRENCH  EXPEDITION  AGAINST  THE  MOHAWKS. 


31 


;y  that  so 
federated 
n  both. 
2SS,  solic- 
egimeiits 
igthened, 
party  by 

1665,  to 
justomed 

country 

0  imitate 
iieir  way 
ring  the 
lere  they 

1  Dutch- 
recently 

ied  with 
beggars, 
i  an  easy 
illage,  if 
Qiserable 
and  arti- 
are  their 
leir  own 
difierent 
1  the  In- 
gave  re- 
supplied 
to  carry 

f  the  priests 
■ymen,  gavo 


them  home  :  liaving  taught  them,  by  a  sensible  lesson, 
that  it  is  the  mutual  duty  of  men  to  mitigate  by  kind- 
ness and  charity,  instead  of  aggravating  by  ambition 
and  ferocity,  ihe  ills  that  arise  from  the  rigors  of 
climate  and  the  frailty  of  human  nature.  The  French 
governor  expressed  much  gratitude  for  Corlear's*  kind- 
ness, and  the  Indians  never  resented  his  benevolent 
stratagem.  The  names  of  two  of  the  officers  of  Cour- 
celles  in  this  expedition  are  perpetuated,  the  one  by  the 
Sorel  river,  the  other  by  the  town  of  Chambly. 

To  retrieve  the  misfortunes  of  their  winter  expedi- 
tion, the  French,  in  the  spring  of  1666,  with  all  the 
militia  of  Canada,  amounting  to  twenty  companies  of 
foot,  mar4;hed  into  the  Mohawk  country.  The  expedi- 
tion was  attended  with  great  expense  and  fatigue, 
being  continued  for  more  than  seven  hundred  miles 
through  an  uncultivated  and  hostile  country ;  and 
failed  in  materially  harassing  the  Indians.  At  the  ap- 
proach of  the  French,  the  savages  easily  found  places 
of  safety  by  retiring  into  the  woods  and  swamps, 
where  the  French  armies  could  not  follow  them.  The 
result,  however,  was  favorable  to  the  cause  of  peace. 

*  This  man  enjoyed  great  influence  with  the  Indians,  who,  after  his 
death,  always  addressed  the  governors  of  New  York  with  the  title  of 
Corlear,  an  expression,  in  their  view,  significant  of  kindness,  friendship, 
and  confidence.  Grateful  frr  his  unexpected,  if  not  undeserved  hospi- 
tality, Courcelles  invited  Corlear  to  visit  him  in  Canada.  The  invitation 
was  accepted,  but  on  his  journey  thither,  this  noble  man  was  unfortu- 
nately drowned  in  Lake  Champlain.  The  lake  in  which  he  perished,  the 
Indians  afterward  called  Corlear's  Lake,  by  which  name  it  was  commo;ny 
known  among  the  Ensflish  and  Dutch,  for  many  vcars.  The  ermni'oiis 
idea,  that  Champlain  perished  in  the  lake  which  bears  his  name,  was 
obviously  derived  from  this  incident. 


€3 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


The  French,  exhausted  with  tlie  expense  and  fatigue 
of  the  campaign,  and  mortified  by  their  want  of  suc- 
cess, did  not  wisli  to  repeat  the  experiment  of  another 
expedition  into  the  Indian  territory.  Tlie  Indians 
were  not  pleased  to  see  the  war  brought  into  the  heart 
of  their  own  territory,  and  were  not  yet  able  to  oppose 
a  large  body  of  men  armed  and  disciplined  in  the 
European  manner,  with  much  prospect  of  success. 
And  at  length,  after  a  long  period  of  severe  but  inde- 
cisive hostilities,  both  parties,  wearied  of  war,  but  not 
< exhausted  of  animosity,  agreed  to  a  general  peace, 
•^vhich  was  concluded  in  the  year  1667.  Thus,  for  the 
iirst  time,  the  blessings  of  complete  peace  were  real- 
ized by  the  French  colonies. 

During  the  partial  cessation  of  hostilities  between 
the  French  and  Indians,  for  almost  twenty  years,  the 
former,  by  insidious  artifices,  did  much  to  influence 
the  Indians  against  the  English  settlers  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  doubtless  afforded  them  aid  in  tlieir  bar- 
i)!irou8  warfare  upon  the  English  settlements.  The 
French,  whose  suppleness  of  character  and  demeanor^ 
was  always  more  acceptable  to  the  Indians  in  their 
native  condition,  than  the  grave,  unbending  spiiit  of 
the  English,  found  it  easier  to  cultivate  and  employ, 
'bar  to  check  or  eradicate  the  treachery  and  cruelty 

•  A  curious  instance  of  the  complaisance  of  the  French,  is  related  by 
Oldmixon  in  his  account  of  the  savages  who  were  greatly  charmed  with 
the  good  breeding  of  the  French,  in  always  appearing  perfectly  naked 
in  their  mutual  conferences.  Charlevoix,  a  French  author,  boasted  tliat 
the  French  were  the  only  Europeans  who  'jad  ever  succeeded  in  render- 
ing themselves  agre'^able  to  the  Indians.  Whatever  reason  he  may  have 
Viad  for  this  boast,  he  had  no  reason  tr  glory  in  the  means  by  which 
they  courted  popularity 


I 


if 


OES. 

d  fatigue 
nt  of  8UC- 
•f  another 
e  Indians 
the  heart 
to  oppose 
ed  in  the 
f  success, 
but  inde- 
r,  but  not 
ral  peace, 
us,  for  the 
were  real- 

3  between 
years,  the 
influence 
New  Eng- 
tlieir  bar- 
3nts.  The 
:emeanor^ 
is  in  their 
;  spiiit  of 
d  employ, 
id  cruelty 

is  related  by 
charmed  with 
srfectly  naked 
,  boasted  tliat 
led  in  render- 
1  he  may  liave 
ans  by  which 


FIRST  KNGLI8H  PRI80NKRS  IN  CANADA. 


33 


of  their  Indian  neighbors.     The  encouragement  of  the 
French  allies  prevailed  with  the  Indians  to  reject  all 
friendly  overtures   from  the  English,  which,  at   first, 
they  seemed  willing  to  accept,  and  their  native  ferocity 
prompted  them  to  signalize  their  enmity  by  a  series  of 
unprovoked  and  unexpected  massacres.    So  openly  did 
the  French  afford  aid  to  the  Indians  toward  the  close 
of  King  Philip's  war,  that  Frenchmen  were  known  to 
accompany  their   war-parties,  and    several  prisoners, 
taken  in  battle,  were  carried  to  Canada  and  sold  to  the' 
French.      Hatfield,  a  settlement   on  the   Connecticut 
river,  furnished   the  first  of  that  long  procession  of 
prisoners  who,  during  the  succeeding  seventy  years, 
were  transported  from  New  England  across  the  Green 
Mountains   and    over  Lake   Champlain    to    Canada. 
Toward  the  close  of  1677,  fifty  Indians'from  Canada 
surprised  the  settlement,  and  captured  about  twenty 
prisoners,  among  whom  were  several  women  and  chil- 
dren.    On  their  march   to  Canada,  the  prisoners  en- 
dured great  hardships,  and  were  often  threatened  with 
death.      One  man  was  actually  burned  at  the  stake, 
with  the  usual  Indian  barbarity.     The  remainder  were 
sold  to  the  French.    Two  of  the  women  were  wives  of 
men   named   Wait  and  Jennings.      On  hearing  that 
they  had   been   conveyed   to   Canada,   the   husbands 
made  application  to  the  governor  of  Massachusetts  for 
commissions,  authorizing  them  tu  proceed  to  Canada, 
and  ransom  them.    Starting  in  the  winter,  they  pursued 
their  perilous  journey  across  Lake  Champlain,  and 
finally  arrived   at  Chambly.      There  they  found   the 
caj.tives,  some  of  whom  had  been  pawned  by  the  sav- 
J*tj:es  for  liquor.     Paying  two  hundred  pounds  for  the 


-)'.i 


I 


i: 


34       irrnAN  aixen  and  oreen-mountain  heuoes. 

ransom  of  the  prisoners,  these  noble  men  started  in  the 
spring  of  1678  on  their  return  home.    Their  progress 
was   slow,  for   they  were  compelled   to  procure  their 
provisions   by   hunting.     Early   in   the   summer  they 
reached    home,  without  accident.     This  was  the  tirst 
tour  performed  by  New-England  men  across  the  coun- 
try so  often  traversed  for  similar  purposes  in  the  sub- 
sequent wars,  and  which  became  the  grand  theater  of 
military  operations  between  the  French  and  English 
m  later  times.     After  this  event,  tranquillity  prevailed 
along  the  New-England  frontiers  for  about  ten  years. 
The  peace  which,  for  nearly  twenty  years,  had  been 
maintained  between  the  French  and  the  Five  Nations, 
was  broken  in  1687,  and   hostilities  were  carried  on 
between  them  with  a  mutual  fury  and  ferocity,  that 
seemed   totally  to  obliterate  the  distinctions  between 
civilized    and   savage   men.     Although   unaided,   the 
Five  Nations  maintained  the  struggle  with  an  energy 
that  promised  the  preservation  of  their  independence, 
and  finally,  with  a  success  that  threatened   even  the 
subjugation  of  their  civilized  adversaries.    Undertaking 
an  expedition  with  twelve  hundred  of  their  warriors 
against  Montreal,  they  conducted   their  march  with 
such  rapidity  and  secrecy,  as  to  surprise  the  French  in 
almost  unguarded  security.     The  suddenness  and  fury 
of  their  attack  proved  irresistible.     They  burned  the 
town,  sacked  the  plantations,  put  a  thousand  of  the 
French  to  the  sword,  and  carried  away  a  number  of 
prisoners  whom  they  burned  alive  ;  returning  to  their 
friends  with  only  a  loss  of  three  of  their  own  number. 
They  strained  every  nerve  to  follow  up  their  advantage, 
and  shortly  after  their  attack  on  Montreal,  possessed 


■# 
1 


1 


DES. 

ted  in  the 
'  progress 
iure  their 
imer  they 
J  the  lirst 

the  coiin- 
n  the  sub- 
theater  of 
d  English 

prevailed 
ten  years. 

had  been 
e  Nations, 
carried  on 
ocity,  that 
s  between 
lided,   the 

an  energy 
3pendence, 
.  even  the 
ndertaking 
ir  warriors 
larch  with 

French  in 
58  and  fury 
turned  the 
md  of  the 
number  of 
ng  to  their 
m  number, 
uu  vantage, 
,  possessed 


FBENCH  EXI'EDITION  ACIAINST  acnENl<:CTADT.  35 

themselves   of  several   fortresses  whicli  the  garrisons 
abandoned  in  the  panic.    They  reduced  every  station 
tliat  the  French  possessed  in  Canada,  to  a  state  of  tlie 
utmost  terror  and  distress.     Kotiiing  could  have  saved 
the  French  from  utter  destruction,  >ut  the  ignorance 
which  disabled   the  Indians   from  attacking  fortified 
places ;  and  it  was  evident  that  a  single  vigorous  act 
of  interposition  by  the  English  colonists  — compelled 
by  treaty  to  remain  inactive  spectators  of  the  contest- 
would  have  sufficed   to  terminate  forever  the  rivalrv 
0+'  France  and  England  in  this  quarter  of  the  world.  ' 
The  condition  of  the  French  in  Canada,  was  suddenly 
raised  from  the  brink  of  ruin,  by  the  arrival  of  a  stro^Gg 
reinforcement  from  the  parent  state,  under  the  coul 
mand  of  a  skillful  and  enterprising  officer,  the  old  Count 
de  Frontignac,  who  now  assumed  the  government  of 
the  French  settlements,  and  quickly  gave  a  different 
complexion  to  their  affiiirs.     He  set  on  foot  a  treaty 
with  the  Five  Nations,  and  succeeded,  meanwhile,  in 
obtaining  a  suspension  of  their  hostilities.     About  this 
time  war  was  declared  between  France  and  England  ; 
and  he  boldly  determined  to  revive  the  drooping  spirits 
of  the  colony,  by  making  an  attack  upon  New  York. 

A  considerable  body  of  French  and  Indians  was 
accordingly  collected  and  dispatched  in  the  depth  of 
winter  against  New  York.  By  a  strange  coincidence, 
which  must  ever  stain  the  name  of  the  French  colonists 
with  the  blackest  ingratitude  and  dishonor,  this  party, 
like  their  predecessors  in  1GG.5,  after  wandering  for 
t\7enty-two  days  through  deserts  rendered  trackless  by 
snow,  approached  the  village  of  Schenectady  in  so 
exhausted   a  condition  that  they  had   determined    to 


an  KTUXy  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MOCNTAIN  IIER0K8. 

-iirroiKit,.  .x.omselvt'8  to  the  inhabitants  as  prisoners  of 
war.     13ut,  arriving  at   a  Jate  hour  on  an  inclement 
niglit,  (February  8,  1090,)  and  hearing  from  the  mes- 
sengers that  tiiey  liad  sent  forward,  that  the  inhabitants 
were  all  in  bed,  without  even  the  precaution  of  a  public 
watch,  they  exchanged    their  intention   of  imploring 
mercy  to  themselves,  for  a  plan  of  nocturnal  attack 
and  massacre  of  the  defenseless  people,  to  whose  charity 
tiieir  own  countrymen   had   once  been  so  deeply  in- 
debted.    This   detestable  requital   of  good  with  evii, 
was  executed  with  a  barbarity  which  of  itself  must  be 
acknowledged  to  form  one  of  the  most  revolting  and 
terrific  pictures  that  has  ever  been  exhibited   of  hu- 
man cruelty  and  ferocity.    Dividing  themselves  into 
a  number   of  parties,  they  set  lire  to   the  village  in 
various  places,  and  attacked  the  inhabitants  with  fatal 
advantage,  when,  alarmed  by  the  conflagration,  they 
endeavored  to  escape  from  the  burning  houses.    The 
exhausted  strength  of  the  Frenchmen  seemed  to  revive 
with  the  work  of  destruction,  and   to  gather  energy 
from  the  animated  horror  of  the  scene.     Kot  only  were 
all  the  male  inhabitants  they  could  reach  put  to  death, 
but  women  and  children  were  barbarously  murdered! 
But   either  the   delay  occasioned   by  their  elaborate 
cruelty,  or  the  more  merciful  haste  of  the  flames  to 
announce  the  calamity  to  those  who  might  still  fly 
from  the  assassins,  em'^ed  many  of  the  inhabitants  to 
escape.     The  efl^brts  of  the  assailants  were  also  some- 
what  impeded   by  a  sagacious   discrimination  which 
they  thought  it   expedient  to  exercise.     Though   un- 
mindful of  benefits,  they  were  not  regardless  of  policy, 
an.l  (,f  a  number  of  Mohawk  Indians  who  were  in  the 


IIEROKS. 

i  prisoners  of 
un  int'lunienl 
'om  the  mes- 
le  inhabitants 
m  of  a  public 
of  iniplorinf^ 
urnal  attack 
vhose  charity 
0  deeply  in- 
)d  with  evii, 
self  niu3t  be 
tjvolting  and 
)ited   of  hu- 
niselves  into 
le  villaf(e  in 
its  with  fatal 
:ration,  they 
lousea.    Tiie 
led  to  revive 
'her  energy 
Dt  only  were 
)iit  to  death. 
y  murdered, 
ir  elaborate 
e  flames  to 
^'ht  still  fly 
habitants  to 
also  some- 
ition  which 
though   un- 
58  of  policy, 
were  in  the 


WAKFARK  IN  NKW  K.NCiLAMJ. 


87 


vilhige,  not  one  sustained  an  in  jury.  SIxtv  Derstms 
jR'n.^hed  in  the  massacre,  and  twenty-seven  were  taken 
j)risuner8.  Of  the  fugitives  who  escaped  half  naked, 
and  made  their  way  through  a  storm  to  Albany, 
twenty-five  lost  their  limbs  from  the  intensity  of  tlie 
frost.  The  French  having  totally  destroyed  the  vil- 
lage, retired  across  Lake  Champlain  loaded  with  j)lun. 
der.  They  were  pursued  by  a  party  of  young  men, 
who  killed  or  captured  twenty-five. 

In  concert  with  the  exi)edition  against  New  York 
under  D'Aillebout,  Frontignac  sent  a  party  of  French 
and  Indians,  under  the  comnumd  of  Sieur  Ilertel,  to 
lay  waste  the  frontier  settlements  of  Massachusetts 
and    Kew   Hampshire*    This    expedition    was    also 

•  At  Salmon  Falls,  in  New  Hampshire,  thirty  persons  were  killed, 
and  liily-four,  chiefly  women  and  diildj-eu,  were  carriw]  into  capti\  ity* 
Among  the  prisonera  was  a  Mr.  Rodge.s,  who,  beinjr  quite  corpulent, 
was  unable  to  carry  the  burden  in)posed  upon  him,  and  attempted  to  es- 
cape in  the  woods.     The  Indians  caught  him,  stripped,  beat  and  pricked 
him  with  their  knives  ;  then  tied  him  to  a  tree  and  danced  around  him 
until  they  had  kindled  a  fire.     They  gave  him  time  to  pray  and  take 
leave  of  his  fellow -prisoners,  who  were  compelled  to  witness  his  death. 
They  pushed  the  fire  toward  him.  and  wjien  he  was  almost  fitifled,  took 
it  away  to  give  liim  time  to  breathe,  and  thus  prolong  his  misery  ;  they 
drowned  his  dying  groans  with  their  liideous  singing  and  yelling;  all 
the  while  dancing  around  the  fire,  and  cutting  off  pieces  of  his  fle«h  and 
throwing  them  in  his  face.     When  he  was  dead  they  left  his  bod  ,  broil- 
ing on  the  coals,  in  which  state  it  was  found  by  his  friends,  and  buried. 

An  anecdote  of  a  difierent  character  is  told  of  this  expedition.  While 
an  Indian  was  preparing  strings  to  hind  a  prisoner  named  Toogood,  the 
latter  seized  his  gun  and  went  backward,  keeping  the  gun  pointed  at  the 
Indian,  and  threatened  to  siioot  him  if  he  alarmed  the  others,  who  had 
passed  over  the  brow  of  a  hill.  By  compelling  the  Indian  to  foUow  him 
some  distance,  he  was  enabled  to  make  his  escape,  his  adversary  calling 
hira  Nogood,  Nogood.  When  the  Indian  returned  to  his  companiou. 
-vilhout  gun  or  prisoner,  they  ridiculed  him  lieartily 


88 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GliEEN-MOUNTAIN  HER0K8. 


ni:V    1 


Buecessfu.,  and  marked  with  cruelties  scarcely  lest 
monstrous  than  those  committed  at  Schenectady.  The 
success  that  attended  these  expeditions  served  to  revive 
the  spirits  of  the  French  colony,  and  at  the  same  time 
occasioned  great  alarm  in  every  part  of  the  English 
plantations.  Aided  by  Frontignac,  the  Indians  made 
frequent  incursions  into  the  English  settlements,  and 
wherever  they  went  committed  the  most  horrid  acts 
of  savage  cruelty  *  The  French,  by  giving  premiums 
for  scalps,  and  by  purchasing  the  English  prisoners, 
animated  the  Indians  to  exert  all-  their  activity  and 

In  1G89,  the  Indians,  having;  resolved  upon  attackint^  Dover  in  N'ew 
Hampshire,  employed  their  usual  art  to  lull  the  suspicions  of  the  inhab- 
itants.   So  civil  and  respectful  was  their  behavior,  that  they  occasionally 
obtained  permission  to  sleep  in  the  fortified  houses  in  the  town.    On 
the  evening  of  the  fatal  night,  they  assembled  in  the  neighborhood,  and 
sent  their  women  to  apply  for  lodgings  at  the  houses  devoted  to  dcstruc 
tion.    When  all  was  quiet,  the  doors  were  opened  and  the  signal  given. 
Against  Major  Waldron,  one  of  the  principal  inhabitants,  their  animosity 
was  particularly  excited  by  his  former  harsh  dealings  with  the  Indians. 
They  rushed  into  his  house,  and  hastened  to  his  apartment.    Awakened 
by  the  noise,  he  seized  his  sword  and  drove  them  back ;  but  when  re- 
turning for  his  other  arms,  was  stunned  with  a  hatchet  and  fell.     Thev 
then  dragged  him  into  his  hall,  seated  him  in  an  elbow-chair  upon  a 
long  table,  and  insultingly  asked,  "Who  shall  judge  Indians  now?" 
After  feasting  upon  provisions  which  they  compelled  the  rest  of  the 
family  to  procure,  each  one,  with  a  knife,  cut  gashes  in  Waldron's  breast, 
sayicg,  "  I  cross  out  my  account ! "    They  then  cut  off  his  nose  and 
ears,  and  forced  them  into  his  mouth  ;  and  when,  weakened  from  the 
loss  of  blood,  he  was  about  to  fall  from  the  table,  his  own  sword  was 
held  under  him,  which  put  an  Ond  to  his  tortures.    At  other  houses,  sim- 
ilar acts  of  cruelty  were  perpetrated,  and  in  the  whole,  twenty-three 
pereons  were  killed,  and  twenty-nine  carried  prisoners  to  Canada,  who 
were  shortly  sold  to  the  French.    Many  houses  were  burned  and  much 
property   was   plundered  ;   but   so  expeditious  were  the   Indians,  that 
they  had   fled   beyond   reach  before  the  neipjhboring  people  could   be 
collecri'd. 


0K8. 

fcely  lest 
idy.  The 
.  to  revive 
same  time 

0  English 
ans  made 
ents,  and 
)rrid  acts 
premiums 
prisoners, 
ivity  and 

over  in  N'ew 
f  the  inhab- 
ocrasionally 
!  town.  On 
)orhood,  and 

1  to  destruc- 
lignal  given, 
ir  animosity 
the  Indians. 

Awakened 
it  when  re- 
fell.  They 
bair  upon  a 
ina  now  ?  " 
rest  of  the 
ion's  breast, 
is  nose  and 
id  from  the 
sword  was 
louses,  sim- 
v^enty-three 
anada,  who 
and  much 
idians,  that 
B  could  be 


*1 


EXPEDITION  AGAINST  QUEBEC. 


39 


address,  and  the  frontier  inhabitants  endured  the  most 
aggravated  sufferings. 

To  avenge  these  barbarities,  a  combined  invasion 
of  Canada  was  projected.  An  expedition  commanded 
by  Sir  VVilb'am  Phipps,*  sailed  from  Boston  against 
Quebec  ;  and  the  united  forces  of  Connecticut  and 
New  York,  under  the  command  of  General  Winthrop, 
were  to  march  against  Montreal,  by  the  way  of  Lake 
Champlain.  The  first,  commanded  by  Phipps,  bon- 
sisted  of  forty  vessels,  and  the  number  of  troops  on 
board  amounted  to  over  two  thousand.  These  were 
furnished  by  Massachusetts  and  Kew  Hampshire. 
Phipps  arrived  before  Quebec  bo  late  in  the  season, 
that  there  was  but  little  opportunity  for  accomplishing 
his  purpose.      The  English  were  arrested  in  various 

»  Sir  William  Phipps  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  notwith- 
Btanding  a  mean  education,  and  the  depression  of  the  humblest  circum- 
stances,  had  raised  himself  by  the  mere  vigor  of  his  mind  to  a  conspicuous 
rank,  and  gained  a  high  reputation  for  spirit,  skiuVud  success.    He  kept 
sheep  in  his  native  province  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  was 
afterward  apprenticed  to  a  ship-carpenter.     When  he  was  freed  from  his 
indentures,  he  pui-sued  a  seafaring  life,  and  attained  the  station  of  captain 
of  a  merchant  vessel.    Having  met  with  an  account  of  the  wreck  of  a 
Spanish  ship,  loaded  with  great  treasures,  near  the  Bahama  Islands,  about 
fifty  years  before,  he  conceived  a  plan  of  extricating  the  buried  treasures 
from  the  bowels  of  the  deep  ;  and,  transporting  himself  to  England,  he 
btated  his  scheme  so  plausibly,  that  the  king  was  struck  with  it,  and  in 
1 083  sent  him  out  with  a  vessel  to  make  the  attempt.    It  proved  unsuc- 
cessful ,  and  all  his  urgency  could  not  induce  the  king  to  engage  in  a 
repetition  of  it.    But  the  Duke  of  Albemarle,  resuming  the  design, 
equipped  a  vessel  for  the  purpose,  and  gave  the  command  of  it  to  Phipps, 
who  now  realizing  the  expectations  he  had  formed,  succeeded  in  raising 
specie  to  the  value  of  $1,500,000,  from  the  bottom  of  the  ocean.    Of 
this  treasure  he  obtained  a  portion  sufficient  to  make  his  fortune,  with  a 
still  larger  meed  of  general  consideration  and  applause. 


40 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREKN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


severe  encounters,  and  compelled  at  lengtli  to  make 
a  precipitate  ret-eat ;  and  the  fleet,  after  having  sus- 
tained considerable  loss  in  the  voyage  homeward, 
returned  to  Boston. 

General  Winthrop,  with  a  thousand  men,  marched 
from  Albany  into  the  northern  wilderness,  with  the 
design  of  passing  through  Lake  Champlain  and  cap- 
turing Montreal.  But  this  army,  the  forerunner  of  the 
many  marshaled  hosts  that  for  almost  a  century  after- 
ward, made  Lake  Champlain  and  the  country  border- 
ing on  it  their  highway,  was  retarded  by  defective 
arrangements,  and  disappointed  by  the  friendly  In- 
dians who  had  engaged  to  furnish  them  with  canoes 
for  crossing  river?  After  marching  some  distance 
toward  Montreal,  the  commander  deemed  it  expedient 
to  retreat  without  doing  any  injury  to  the  enemy. 

Vexed  at  having  the  expedition  thus  abandoned, 
and  knowing  that  the  friendly  Indians  were  losing 
f'oniidence  in  the  energy  and  power  of  their  English 
allies,  Captain  John  Schuyler,  (grandfather  of  General 
Philip  Schuyler  of  our  revolutionary  history,)  enlisted 
a  force  of  thirty  whites  and  one  hundred  and  twenty 
Indians,  the  same  fall,  and  made  an  excursion  to  the 
St.  Lawrence,  destroyed  the  village  of  La  Prairie,  took 
nineteen  prisoners,  devastated  the  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  Montreal,  and  returned  in  triumph  to 
Albany.'*'" 

The  following  year,  (1691,)  Major  Peter  Schuyler, 
(brother  to  John  Schuyler,)  having  acquired  extraor- 
dinary influence  with  the  Five  Nations  by  his  courage, 

*  Fitch's  History  of  Washitigtfui  County, 


I 


IIEKOKS. 


igtii  to  make 
V  having  sus- 
e   homeward, 


nen,  marched 
Bss,  with  tlie 
ain  and  cap- 
runner  of  the 
century  after- 
untry  border- 
by  defective 
1  friendly  In- 
i  with  canoes 
)me  distance 
I  it  expedient 
enemy. 
8  abandoned, 
1  were  losing 
their  English 
er  of  General 
;ory,)  enlisted 
1  and  twenty 
ursion  to  the 
Prairie,  took 
intrv  in  the 
triumph    to 

ter  Schuyler, 
lired  extraor- 
r  his  courage, 

ty. 


FKENCH    PJMULATION    OF    JKJJlA.N    (JliUELTT. 


41 


good  sense,  and  friendly  attention  to  their  interests, 
undertook  an  expedition  against  Montreal,  at  the  head 
of  a  considerable  body  of  colonial  and  Indian  forces. 
Though  the  invaders  were  finally  compelled  to  retreat, 
the  French  sustained  great  loss  in  several  eacounters  • 
and  such  was   the  spirit  and   animosity  of  the  Fiv 
Nations,  that   they   continued,  during  the   winter,  to 
wage  incessant   and  harassing   hostilities  against 'the 
French,  although  the  colonial  troops  had  returned  to 
their  homes.      Count  Frontignac  was  so  exasperated 
by  their  continued  assaults,  that  he  condemned  to  a 
death  accompanied  by  all  the  torments  French  inge- 
nuity could  devise,  two  Mohawk  captives,  whom  the 
fate  of  war  had  thrown  into  his  power.*    The  peace  of 
Ryswick,  in  1697,  put  an  end  to  hostilities  for  a  brief 
period,  between  the  rival  colonies  of  the  French  and 
English. 

In  a  few  years  war  again  broke  out  in  Europe,  and 
hostilities   speedily  recommenced    in   America.     The 

•  Shortly  before  the  execution,  some  Freuchraan,  less  inhuman  than 
his  governor,  threw  a  knife  into  the  prison,  and  one  of  the  Mohawks 
immediately  dispatched  himself  with  it ;  the  other,  expressing  contempt 
at  his  companion's  mean  evasion  of  glory,  walked  to  the  stake,  singing 
in  his  death-chant,  that  he  was  a  Mohawk  warrior ;  that  all  the  power  of 
man  could  not  extort  an  expression  of  suffering  from  his  lips  ;  and  that  it 
was  ample  consolation  to  him  to.reflect  that  he  had  made  many  French- 
men  suffer  the  same  pangs  that  he  must  now  himself  undergo.     When 
attached  to  the  stake,  he  looked  round  on  his  executioners,  their  instru- 
ments  of  torture,  and  the  assembled  multitude  of  spectators,  with  all  the 
complacency  of  heroic  fortitude,  and,  after  enduring  for  some  hours,  with 
composed  mien  and  triumphant  language,  a  series  of  barbarities  too  atro- 
c.ous  to  be  narrated,  his  sufferings  were  terminated  by  the  interposition 
'5f  a  French  lady,  who  prevailed  with  the  governor  to  order  thnt  mortal 
olow,  to^which  human  cruelty  has  given  the  name  of  coup  de  grace,  or 
etrukc  (II  favor 


W  ■■: 


42  ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

first  blow  fell  upon  Deerfield,  which  was  at  that  time 
the  most  northerly  settlement  on  the  Connecticut  river, 
a  few  families  at  Northlield  excepted.     Against  this 
place  a  party  of  two  hundred  French,  and  one  hundred 
and   fifty  Indians  was   sent.    They  were   under  the 
command  of  Hertel  de  Eouville,  assisted  by  four  of  his 
brothers,  all  of  whom  had  become  distinguished  in  the 
wars.    They  passed   up  Lake  Champlain   until   they 
reached   the  Winooski  (at  that  time  called   French) 
river.    There  they  crossed  over  to  Connecticut  river, 
and  traveled  on  the  ice  until  they  arrived  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  Deerfield.    Early  on  the  morning  of  March  12, 
1704,  Rouville  attacked  the  village.    The  snow  around 
the  fort  was  in  many  places  drifted  nearly  to  the  top 
of  the  palisades,  and  the  enemy  found  no  difficulty 
in  sm-mounting  these  defenses.    The  occupants  were 
buried  in  profound  sleep.     A  simultaneous  assault  was 
made  upon  all  the  houses,  the  doors  were  broken  open, 
and  the  people  seized  in  their  beds.    "When  resistance 
was   attempted,  the  tomahawk  or  musket  ended   the 
strife.     A  few  were  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  by  flight 
to  the  adjacent  woods ;  but  the  greater  part  were  either 
killed  or  made  prisoners. 

Early  in  the  assault,  about  thirty  Indians  attacked 
the  house  of  the  Eev.  John  Williams,  who,  awaking 
from  a  sound  sleep,  instantly  leaped  from  his  bed,  ran 
toward  the  door,  and  found  a  party  entering.  Calling 
to  awaken  a  couple  of  soldiers  in  his  chamber,  he 
seized  a  pistol,  presented  it  at  the  breast  of  the  fore- 
most Indian,  and  attempted  to  shoot  him ; '  but  the 
pistol  missed  fire.  He  was  instantly  overpowered, 
bound,  and  kept  for  an  hour  without  his  clothes.     Two 


MASSACRE  AT  DEEKFJELD. 


43 


of  his  young  children  were  dragged  to  the  door  and 
murdered,  and  his  negro-woman  shared  the  same  fate. 
,  Mrs.  Williams  and  five  children,  the  youngest  of  whom 
was  but  a  few  weeks  old,  were  also  captured. 

Another  dwelling-house  was   successfully  defended 
by  seven  armed  men  and  a  few  women,  by  whom  it 
was  occupied.     While  the  brave  defenders  were  pour- 
ing their  fire  upon  the  assailants  from  the  windows  and 
loop-holes,  the  no  less  brave  women  w^ere  busily  em- 
ployed in  casting  balls  for  future  supply.    Unable  to 
carry  the  house,  or  intimidate  the  defenders  to  a  sur- 
render by  all  their  threats  and  stratagems,  the  enemy 
gave   up  their  efforts,  and   cautiously  endeavored   to 
keep  out  of  the  range  of  the  shot.    But  notwithstanding 
their  precautions,  several  were  singled  out  and   shot 
down  by  the  marksmen  in  the  house. 

Having  collected   the  prisoners,  plundered  and  set 
fire  to  the   buildings,  Eouville   began   to  retrace   his 
march  to  Canada.     But  a  party  of  the  inhabitants  who 
had  escaped,  returned  to  the  village,  and,  joined  by  the 
men  who  had  defended  their  house,  and  a  few  people 
who  had  hurried  on  froni  Hatfield,  pursued  the  enemy, 
and   a  sharp  skirmish  ensued ;   but,  being  at  length 
nearly  encircled  by  a  superior  force,  they  were  C(Sn- 
pelled-  to  retire,  with  the  loss  of  nine  of  their  number. 
The  pursuit,  though  highly  honorable  to  the  bravery 
of  the   pursuers,  exposed   the  captives   to   imminent 
danger.     During  the   fight,   the  English   maintained 
their  ground  with  great  resolution,  and  at  one  crisis, 
Rouville,  apprehending  a  defeat,  sent  orders  for  the 
captives  to  be  tomahawked  ;  but  fortunately  the  mes 
seriger   wa^   killed    before    he   delivered    his    orders. 


^ 


44 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEJS-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


'  i] 


Preparations  were  however  made  by  the  Indians  who 
guarded  the  prisoners,  to  put  them  to  death  in  case 
of  the  defeat  of  their  party.  On  the  retreat  of  the 
English,  Rouville  countermanded  his  order,  and  saved 
the  captives. 

The  whole  number  of  prisoners  amountetl  to  one 
hundred  an-  r.^-elve.  Forty-seven  were  slain,  and  tl»e 
loss  of  the  ei\^:ny  was  about  the  same.  The  entire 
village  was  reduced  to  ashes  with  the  exception  of  one 
house,  which  is  still  standing,  and  the  traces  of  the 
tomahawks  and  bullets  are  still  to  be  seen. 

Soon    after    the   action,   Rouville   commenced    hie 
march  for  Canada.     Most  gloomy  were  the  prospects 
of  the  captives.     Many  were  women  then  in  a  condition 
requiring  the  most  tender  treatment ;  some  were  young 
children  whose  feeble  frames   could   not  sustain  the 
fatigues  of  a  day ;  others  were  infants,  carried  in  the 
arms  of  their  parents.     Several  of  the  men  were  suffer- 
ing from  severe  wounds.     The  distance  to  Canada  was 
nearly  three  hundred   miles,  through  a  country  wild 
and  waste.    It  was  in  the  midst  of  winter,  and   the 
ground  was   deeply  covered  with   snow.    The  whole 
party  was  unsupplied  with  provisions,  and  dependent 
solely  for  food  upon  the  game  that  should  be  killed 
on  their  route.     The  first  day's  march  was  necessarily 
slow  and  difficult.     The  Indians,  probably  from  a  de- 
sire to  save  the  young  to  dispose  of  in  Canada,  or  to 
retain  for  their  own  service,  rather  than  from  tender- 
ness,  assisted    the  parents  by  carrying   the  children 
upon  their  backs.     At  night,  they  encamped  by  clear- 
ing away  the  snow,  spreading  boughs,  and  construct- 
ing slight   cabins   of  brush.     The  prisoners  were   as 


ROES. 

idians  who 
-th  in  case 
eat  of  the; 
and  saved 

ed  to  one 
n,  and  tl»e 
The  entire 
ion  of  one 
3es  of  the 

snced    hie 
prospects 
.  condition 
ere  young 
astain  the 
ed  in  the 
ere  suffer- 
mada  was 
ntry  wild 
,  and   the 
'he  whole 
lependent 
be  killed 
ecessarily 
om  a  de- 
ida,  or  to 
n  tender- 
children 
by  clear- 
3onstruct- 
were   as 


SUFFERINGS  UF  THE  CAPTIVES.  45 

comfortably  lodged  as  circumstances  would  admit.     To 
prevent  escapes,  the  most  athletic  were  bound,  and  se- 
cured according  to  the  Indian  mode,  and  this  was  prac 
ticed  at  the  subsequent  night  camps.     Notwithstanding 
this  precaution,  Joseph  Alexander,  one  of  the  prisoners" 
had  the  good  fortune  to  escape.    To  deter  others  from 
similar  attempts,  Mr.  Williams,  who  was  considered  as 
the  head  of  the  captives,  was  informed,  that  in  case  of 
another  escape,  the  remainder  should  suffer  death  by 
lire.     In  the  course  of  the  night,  ^ome  of  the  Indians 
became  intoxicated  with  spirits  which  they  had  found 
at  Deerfield,  and  fell  upon  Mr.  Williams'  negro  and 
murdered  him. 

The  second  day's  march  was  equally  slow,  and  Mr. 
Williams  was  permitted,  for  a  short  time,  to  assist  his 
distressed  wife  in  traveling,  who  now  began  to  be  ex- 
hausted ;  but  he  was  soon  torn  from  her  and  placed  at 
the  head  of  the  column,  leaving  her  to   struggle  along 
unassisted.    At  the  upper  part  of  Greenfield  meadow 
It;  became  necessary  to  pass  Green  river,  a  small  stream 
then   open,  in   performing  which,  Mrs.  Williams  fell 
into  the  water;  but  recovering  herself,  she  with  diffi- 
culty reached  the  shore  and  continued  her  route     An 


fV 


il- 


abrupt  hill  was  now  to  be  surmounted,  and  Mr  ~n  u- 
Imms,  who  had  gained  the  summit,  entreated  his  mas- 
tor  tor  so  the  Indian  who  captured  him  was  called,^ 
tor  leave  to  return  and  help  forward  his  distressed 
wile,  but  was  barbarously  refuP  ,  and  she  was  left 
to  struggle  with  difficulties  beyond  her  power.  Her 
terocious  master  finding  her  a  burthen,  sunk  his  hatchet 
m  her  head,  and  left  her  dead  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
Her  body  was  soon  after  taken  up  by  a  party  from 


46 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


field,  and  interred  in  the  public  burial-ground  in  that 
town,  where  her  grave-stones,  with  those  of  her  hus- 
band, Mr.  Williams,  are  still  to  be  seen. 

Eouville  encamped  the  second  night  in  the  northerly 
part  of  the  present  town  of  Bernardston.     A  yonno 
woman  and  an  miant  were  dispatched  in  the  course 
of  this   day's   march.     At   this   camp   a  consultation 
was  held   by  the   Indians  in  regard   to  killing  and 
scalping  Mr.  Williams  ;   but  his  master,  unwilling  to 
part  with   so  valuable  a  prize,  interfered   and   saved 
him   from   the  Latchet.     The  next  day  the   captives 
were    more   equally   distributed    for  convenience   of 
marching,  and  several  exchanged  masters.    The  fourth 
day  brought   the   ar-^y   to* Connecticut   river,  about 
thirty  miles  above  Deerfield,  probably  in   the  upper 
part  of  Brattleborough,  Vermont,     "^^ere  slight  sledges 
were  constructed,  for  the  conveyance  of  the  children, 
wounded  and  baggage,  and  the  march,  which  was  now 
on  the  ice,  became  more  rapid.     One  female  was  this 
day  relieved   from  her  sufferings  by  a  stroke  of  the 
hatchet. 

The  march  on  Connecticut  river  continued  several 
days  without  any  extraordinary  incident,  excepting 
now  and  then  the  murder  of  an  exhausted  captive. 
On  the  first  Sunday,  the  prisoners  were  permitted  to 
halt  and  rest  themselves,  and  Mr.  Williams  delivered  a 
discourse  from  these  words  :  *  "  The  Lord  is  righteous, 
for  I  have  rebelled  against  his  commandments:  Hear 
I  pray  you,  all  people,  and  lehold  my  sorrow :  My 

•  This  sermon  is  said  to  have  been  delivered  at  the  mouth  of  Williams' 
river,  in  Rockingham,  Vermont :  from  •«»'hich  circumstance  the  river 
received  it«  name. 


I 


CR0E8. 

unci  in  that 
of  her  hu8- 

le  northerly 
A  young 

the  course 
:on8ultation 
filling  and 
Qwilling  to 
and  saved 
e  captives 
snience  of 
The  fourth 
ver,  about 

the  upper 
^ht  sledges 
3  children, 
h  was  now 
e  was  this 
)ke  of  the 

ed  several 
excepting 
d  captive, 
rraitted  to 
elivered  a 
righteous^ 
its:  Hear 
row :  My 

of  Williams' 
ice  the  river 


ANliUDOTE. 


47 


olrgins  and  young  men  are  gone  into  captivitu'^ 
Lamentations,  i.  18. 

At  the  mouth  of  White  river,  Rouville  divided  his 
force  into  several  parties,  and  th^y  took  different  routes 
to  the  St.  Lawrence.      Tlie  one  which  Mr.  Williams 
accompanied,  ascended  the  former  river,  and  passing 
the    highlands    to    the    Winooski,   proceeded    down 
that  stream  to  Lake  Champlain,  and   continued  the 
march  on  the  lake  to  Missisco  bay,  near  which  they 
joined  a  party  of  Indians  on  a  hunting  excursion     On 
reaching  the  Sorel,  they  built  canoes  and  passed  down 
to  Chambly,  where  they  found  a  French  fort  and  a 
small  garrison.     Their  route  was  then  continued  to  the 
village  of  Sorel,  where  some  of  the  captives  had  already 
arrived       Mr.  Williams   was  thence  conveyed  down 
the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Indian  village  of  St.  Francis, 
and  some  time  aftov,  to  Quebec;   and    after  a  sho-'t 
residence  at  that  place,  was  sent  to  Montreal,  where  he 

7m  "w'n'^^  ''''''^  ^^  ^'"^^^^^  ^^"d^'^^-i^-     Some 
ot  Mr.  Williams'  children  accompanied  another  party, 

HiKi  aitei.  much  delay  and  great  suffering,  arrived  at 

various  Indian  lodges  on  the  St.  Lawrence.    In  a  few 

mstances,  the  captives  were  purchased  of  the  Indians  ; 

but  the  greatest  proportion   were   retained    by  them 

at  their  lodges  in  various  parts  of  the  country      Of 

the    one  hundred    and    twelve    taken   at  Deerfield 

about  seventeen  were  killed,  or  died   on  the  march, 

and  the  sufferings  of  all  were  severe  in  the  extreme. 

An  anecdote  is  told  of  a  boy  among  the  prisoners  who, 

having  nothing  given  him  to  eat,  ran  up  to  an  old 

Indian,  and  snatched  a  bone  from  hi«  hands     Oont— - 

to  the  expectation  oi'the  other  captives,  the  Indian  wl's 


48 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOUNTAIN  1IEUOE8. 


not  displeased,  but  laughed  heartily  at  the  courage  of 
the  lad.  He  was  afterward  treated  with  much  kind- 
ness, and  became  a  favorite  with  the  Indians. 

During  his  captivity,  Mr.  Williams  was  permitted 
to  visit  various  places  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  in  his 
interviews  with  the  French  Jesuits,  he  found  them 
zealously  attached  to  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  to 
which  they  spared  no  pains  to  convert  him,  as  well  as 
the  other  captives  ;  and  in  some  instances  they  inflicted 
punishments  for  non-compliance  with  their  ceremonies. 
But  they  found  him  as  zealously  attached  to  his  own 
faith,  and  through  his  influence,  most  of  the  captives 
continued  firm  in  the  protestant  persuasion.  In  1706, 
a  flag-ship  was  sent  to  Quebec  by  Governor  Dudley,  by 
which  fifty-seven  of  the  captives  were  obtained  and 
conveyed  to  Boston,  among  whom  was  Mr.  Williams* 
and  his  children,  with  the  exception  of  his  daughter 
Eunice,  who,  notwithstanding  all  the  exertions  of  her 
father  to  obtain  her  redemption,  was  left  among  the 
Indians,  and,  adopting  their  manners  and  customs, 
married  a  savage,  by  whoiL  she  had  several  children. 
P-A.^e  time  after  the  war,  she  with  her  husband,  visited 
relations  at  Deerfield,  dressed  in  the  Indian  cos- 
^  time  ;  and  though  every  persuasion  was  tried  to  induce 
her  to  abandon  the  Indians,  and  to  remain  among  her 
connections,  all   proved   ineffectual;   she  returned  to 

*  This  worthy  man  was  born  at  Roxbury,  Massachusetts,  in  the  year 
1664.  In  1G83,  after  graduating  at  Hartford  college,  he  became  the 
pastor  of  the  church  at  Deerfield,  and  was  the  first  settled  minister  in 
the  western  part  of  Massachusetts.  His  people  found  in  him  an  able, 
conscientious,  and  judicious  friend,  capable  both  of  directing  their  devo- 
tions, and  of  assisting  them  in  the  difficulties  and  hardships  of  frontier 
lifp     After  his  return  to  Boston,  several  of  the  wealthiest  parishes  in 


■niK   UKLl,   or  ST.   RKOIB. 


*» 


Canada,  and   tl,ere  cndcl   her  dap,  a  tn,o  savage. 
Twc.ntv.e,o.ht  of  the   eaptives   remained   in   Canada 
and,  mixing  with  the  French  and  Indians,  and  ndopti,  J 
tlieir  manners  and  customs,  forgot  their  native  country 
and  were  lost  to  their  friends. 

New  York  having  agreed  witli  the  French  and 
western  Indians  to  remain  neutral,  the  enemy  were 
enal>lcd  .0  pour  their  whole  force  upon  Massachusetts 
and  New  Hampshire,  the  inhabitants  of  which,  for  ten 

th.t  vicinity,  nrged  Lim  to  „ttle  with  them.  Ho  declined  any  offer  „f 
1".  k.nd,  and,  in  accorianoe  witU  .  vow  made  in  his  captivity  ,  "1 
»ne  to  Deerfleld,  collected  hi.  scattefed  flock,  and  be,„'n  a^'n ^  h 
he,„thelab„„,,„de„d„ted  with  them  the  privation,  and  UCl 
ew  «t  ement.     Hi.  .aWy  „..  .,  ,i.t  forty  po„.  is.  Ut  wJrai«d    r 

nu  ,0  „«y.    He  married  a  .econ.l  wife,  by  who.,  he  had  .everal  d.il- 

«-,f """;'" ""■  '•■»''  *«  fi'-t  historian  of  Vermont    cLl«  K 

W.lham.,  the  son   of  the  latter,  wa,  for  thirty  yea,,  a  jud.,  o    the 

a  M     "f    ,","";  ""•'  '"■  "'"  "'•"''"""  »»'»"'•'  T'eertield,  wa.  to  recover 
a  Ml  wh,el,  had  been  p.nd.ased  i„  France  for  n  Ko.nan  Catholic  c  „,T 
.  St.  Re,,s,  on  the  St.  Lawrence.    The  French  and  Kngli.h  bin!, 
a  ...r  the  vessel  in  which  the  bel,  was  shipped  fei,  „fto  the  h  r'd    .f 

-.1.  oxen  and  sled,  U.  co,„.ey  the  sacred  b    1    "w  do  b      r^T^' 

.-^.swhenit,d::pt:t,:rr;iz:;t^^^^^^^ 

la  the  steeple  with  «.olp,nn  „     "     "  ^"r."rea  caineis.    It  was  hung 

epie  with  solemn  ceremony,  and  there  it  remai„s."_z«,„„^ 


It 


f>0 


KTIIAN  AKLKN  AND  ORKEN-MOUNTAIN  IIKROKi. 


yt'iirs,  endured  tlio  miseriuH  jK'culiur  to  iu\  Iruiian  war, 
of  wliicli  no  description  can  givo  an  adequate  idea.  The 
enemy  was  at  all  ti.  .es  prowling  about  the  frontier 
Bettlemcntw,  watching  in  concealment  for  an  opportu- 
nity to  strike  a  Huddcn  blow,  and  to  fly  with  safety. 
The  women  and  children  retired  into  the  garriwons; 
the  men  left  their  fields  uncultivated,  or  labored  with 
arms  at  their  sides,  and  with  sentinels  at  every  point 
whence  an  attack  could  be  apprehended.  Yet,  not- 
withstanding these  precautions,  tlie  Indians  were  often 
successful,  killing  sometimes  an  individual,  sometimes 
a  whole  famil}',  sometimes  a  band  of  laborers  ten  or 
twelve  in  number;  and  so  swift  were  they  in  their 
movements,  that  but  few  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
English. 

Determined  to  give  the  frontiers  no  respite,  and 
probably  animated  by  the  success  of  Kouville  at  Deer- 
field,  four  hundred  French  and  Indians  marched  from 
Canada,  the  same  year,  (1704,)  across  the  Green  Moun- 
tains, and,  on  the  Slst  of  July,  fell  upon  Lancaster 
in  Massachusetts.  Six  fortified  houses  were  simul- 
taneously attacked,  but  the  enemy  met  with  so  warm 
a  reception  that  they  were  compelled  to  retire.  Before 
they  left  the  place,  most  of  the  other  buildings  were 
fired,  and  reduced  to  ashes.  Three  hundred  men  from 
the  adjacent  towns,  hurried  on  to  the  place  toward 
the  close  of  the  day,  came  up  with  and  engaged  the 
enemy,  and  several  were  killed  on  each  side. 

In  the  autumn,  the  French  suffered  a  severe  loss, 
by  the  capture  of  a  large  store-ship  called  the  Seine, 
on  her  passage  from  France  ;  on  board  of  which  were 
a  number  of  ecclesiastics  and  laymen,  of  great  nrtunes. 


dian  war, 
ilou.  The 
e  frontier 

oj)portu- 
th  safety. 
ijarriHont) ; 
ored  witfi 
ery  point 
Yet,  not- 
i^ere  often 
ouietiuieH 
rs  ten  or 

in  their 
Is  of  the 

pite,  and 
I  at  Deer- 
hed  from 
2n  Moun- 
Lancaster 
re  simul- 
80  "warm 
.  Before 
ngs  were 
nen  from 
e  toward 
aged  the 
e. 

rare  loss, 
le  Seine, 
lich  were 
fortiiTies. 


ror,ONI AI,  WAR  WITH  CANADA.  gj 

Th.  c-ar.o  was  esfi,„ated   at  two  hundred    thousand 
^lollare.     The  loss  of  this  ship  was  a  great  en.barrans- 
int'ut   to   the    nulitary    oi>erati«n8   of    the   French    in 
(  anada,  ami  very  few  depredations  were  connnitted 
m  170...     Vaudreuii,  the  governor  of  Canada,  nmde 
propositions  to  (Jovernor  Dudley  of  Massachusetts,  for 
u   treaty  of  neufality   between   the   hostile   colonies. 
Iho  latter,  then  contemplating  the  conquest  of  Canada 
was  opposed  to  the  measure,  hut  he  had  the  address 
to  protract  the  negotiation,  undo    r.  «  pretense  of  con- 
Bultmg   the  other   English  goven  .rs.     In   the   mean 
nne,  negotiations  for  an  exchange  of  prisoners  were 
earned  on  ;   and    it  was    by  this  arrangement  that  a 

In  1707,  Massachusetts,  New  Hampshire  and  Rhode 
Island  dispatched    an  armament  against   Port  Royal 
in   Nova  Scotia,  then   in   possession   of  the  French 
which  returned,  however,  without  effecting  its  object ' 

ti^ish  ;'  f'  "'''''  ''  "^'^  En^land'assisted  by 
a  Bntish  fleet,  succeeded  in  reducing  the  place,  and 

The  only  effectual  way  to  put  an  end  to  the  depre- 
dations of  t^ie  enemy,  seemed  to  be  th.  subjugation  oT 
Canada.     Representations   to   this   effect  Lre  acquf- 
esced    m  by  the  British  ministry  early  in  1709    and 
Ley  promised  to  dispatch  a  squadron,'contai     ':  five 

oTcoT:r    y-""'    "''^^^^--^  .ove-ments'eas 
oi  Connecticut,  were  required   to  raise  twelve  hun- 
dred men,  with  suitable  transports  and  provisions  for 
tl.ree  months,  to  acomp.ny  the  British  tips  a^^ 


52 


ETOAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOtTNTAIN  tiEROES. 


Quebec.  The  other  colonies  were  to  equip  filteen 
hundred  men  to  proceed  by  the  way  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  and  make  an  attack  upon  Montreal.  The  latter 
were  put  under  the  ccinniand  of  Governor  Nicholson, 
who,  early  in  the  summer,  marched  to  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  to  be  in  readiness  to  cooperate  with  the  arma- 
ment to  be  dispatched  against  Quebec.  These  were 
joined  by  six  hundred  Indians.  While  the  latter 
were  engaged  in  the  construction  of  canoes,  the  for- 
mer were  cutting  roads  between  the  Hudson  river 
and  Lake  Champlain,  erecting  forts,  and  supplying 
them  with  provisions.  Every  thing  promised  success. 
The  Indians  appeared  to  be  heartily  engaged  in  the 
enterprise.  Joy  and  triumphant  exultation  pervaded 
the  colonies.  But  the  English  squadron  was  delayed 
far  beyond  the  appointed  time,  and  at  last  intelligence 
arrived  that,  on  account  of  reverses  in  Portugal,  the 
fleet  destined  for  this  enterprise  was  directed  to  pro- 
ceed to  the  relief  of  the  British  army  in  Portugal. 
In  connection  with  this  disappointment,  a  fatal  epi- 
demic broke  out  among  the  troops  on  Lake  Champlain. 
Probably  not  less  than  a  thousand  men  fell  victims 
to  this  epidemic,  which,  with  the  non-arrival  of  the 
promised  force  from  England,  induced  Nicholson  to 
abandon  the  enterprise  and  to  dismiss  his  troops. 
Thus  terminated  the  second  great  effort  for  the  sub- 
jugation of  the  French  in  Canada. 

Encouraged,  however,  by  the  success  of  his  expedi- 
tion against  Port  Royal,  Governor  Nicholson  visited 
England  in  1710,  to  concert  another  campaign  for 
the  complete  subjugation  of  Canada.  His  plans  were 
adopted,  and  in  June,  1711,  Admiral  "Walker,  with  a 


BRITISH  FLEET  DISPERSED.  53 

fleet  of  fifteen   ships   of  war,   and   forty   transports! 
br,ng,ng  an  army  of  veteran  troops,  arrived  at  Boston 
Tak„,g  on  board  two  additional  regiments,  he  sailed 
rom    hat  port  abont  the  last  of  July.    At  the  same 
t.me,  Governor  Micholson  repaired  to  Albany,  to  take 
command  of  the  troops  that  were  to  proceed  by  thi 
way  of  Lake  Champlain.    When  the  fleet  had  ad- 
vaneed  ten  leagues  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  weather 
became  ten.pestuous    and    foggy.    A   difference    of 
op,n,on  arose  concerning  the  course  to  be  pu,-sued : 
the  Enghsh    pilots  recommending   one  cou..se,  and 
the  colonml  another.    The  admiral,  like  most  English 
ofi^cers  preferred  the  advice  of  his  own  pilots  to  the 
colonial      Pursuing    the   course    they  recommended, 
dnnng  the  n.ght,  nine  transports  were  driven  upon 
the  rocks  and  dashed  to  pieces.    From  every  quarter 
cnes  of  distress  arose,  conveying,  throngh  the  dark- 
ness, to  those  wh.  were  yet  afloat,  intelligence  of  the 
fate  ot  the.r  comrades,  and  of  their  own  danger.    The 
ehneks  of  the  drowning  pleaded  powerfully  for  assist- 
ance,  but  none  could  be  afforded  until  the  morning 
dawned,  when  six  or  seven  hundred,  found  floating 
ou   the  scattered  wrecks,  were  rescued  from  death" 
more  than  a  thousand  having  sunk  to  rise  no  more' 
Only  one  of  the  colonial   vessels   was  wrecked,  but 
all  the  persons  on   board  escaped   the  watery  grave 
m  winch  so  many  of  their  brethren  from  the  mother 
country  were  lost.    Weakened  by  this  terrible  disaster, 
the  adm,ral  determined  to  abandon  the  enterprise  and 
return  to  England. 

The  army  designed   to  invade  Canada  by  w,ay  of 
Uke  Champlain,  had  not  advanced  far  fi-om  Albany, 


54 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MUUNTAIN  IIEKOES. 


ilii 


before  they  received  intelligence  of  tlie  disaster  which 
had  attended  the  fleet.  Nothing  remained  for  Nichol- 
son but  to  disband  his  troops  and  return.  Tiie  Mar- 
quis de  Vaudreuil,  governor  of  Canada,  had  been  at 
Quebec,  preparing  to  repulse  the  British  arniaraent. 
He  received  intelligence  from  the  fishermen,  that  sev- 
eral vessels  had  been  wrecked,  and  that  numerous 
dead  bodies,  with  red  coats,  had  drifted  to  the  shore, 
but  that  there  were  no  ships  in  the  river.  Vaudreuil, 
justly  concluding  that  the  English  fleet  had  suftered 
80  much  as  to  induce  them  to  abandon  their  attempt 
upon  Quebec,  ordered  his  united  forces  to  Montreal 
and  Lake  Chaniplain,  to  oppose  the  advance  of  Nich- 
olson's army.  Three  thousand  French  troops  were 
posted  at  Chambly,  to  check  his  a|)proach  to  Mon- 
treal. But  Vaudreuil  soon  learned  that  he  had  nothing 
to  fear  from  the  colonial  army ;  that  it  had  been  dis- 
banded upon  the  intelligence  of  the  disaster  tluit  had 
befallen  the  fleet;  and  that  the  people  of  Albany, 
instead  of  being  engaged  in  any  hostile  attempts  against 
Montreal,  were  in  much  anxiety  concerning  their  own 
safety.  But  he  was  not  prepared  to  take  advantage 
of  the  calamities  of  the  English,  and  invade  the  col- 
onies. Such  was  the  disastrous  termination  of  the 
third  systematic  attempt  to  subjugate  Canada. 

In  1713,  the  treaty  of  Utrecht  put  an  end  to  the 
wars  between  the  French  and  English  '^.olonies,  and  for 
thirty  years  they  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  peace.  Dur- 
ing this  period  of  tranquillity,  the  earliest  settlements 
in  Vermont  occurred,  and  were  made  almost  contempo- 
raneously by  the  English  on  the  Connecticut  river,  and 
by  the  Frerch  on  Lake  Chaniplain.    The  boundariea 


FliENCH  DISCOVERIES. 


55 


ter  which 

)r  Nichol- 

J 

riie  Mar- 

J 

1  been  at 

"1 

rnj  anient. 

that  sev- 

'"% 

numeroiis 

: 

;he  shore, 

I 

"^audreuil, 

m 

I  Buftered 

-1 

r  attempt 

1 

Montreal 

j 

1  of  Nich- 

m 

ops  were 

1 

to  Mon- 

'I 

d  nothing 

m 

been  dis- 

1 

tliat  had 

a 

Albany, 

1 

ts  against 

their  own 

idvantage 

5  the  col- 

■■; 

n   of  the 

da. 

\ 

id  to  the 

'; 

s,  and  for 

ce.    Dur- 

■j 

ittlements 

] 

;ontempr>- 

'iver,  and 

Dundariea 

\ 

between  the  two  nations  had  never  been  defined,  and 
as  the  outskirts  of  their  respective  settlements  began 
to  meet,  disputes  in  regard  to  jurisdiction  arose,  and 
the  red  flames  of  war  were  again  kindled. 

The  early  discoveries  of  Cartier  had  turned  the  eyes 
of  France  toward  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  neighbor- 
ing  territory,  and  established  her  claim  to  it,  accordin-^ 
to  that  peculiar  code  by  which  European  powers  hud 
deemed  it  proper  to  appo..  on  among  themselves  the 
rest  of  the  world.     Although  Canada  had  scarcely  any 
likeness  to  the  smiling  and  luxuriant  aspect  of  Florida, 
or  even  of  Virginia,  yet  it  opened  into  regions  of  vast 
extent ;  and  the  tracing  to  distant  fountains  the  sea- 
like  abyss  of  its  waters,  presented  more  than  common 
attraction  to  curiosity  and  adventure.    But  for  fifty 
years   after  their  discovery,  the  French  government 
gave  but  little  encouragement  to  the  plan  of  colonizing 
these  northern  regions,  and  afler  the  project  was  un''- 
dertaken,  more  attention  was  given  to  the  consolidiition 
and  improvement  of  the  colony,  than  to  exploring  the 
expanse  of  interior  America.      The  Count  do  Fron- 
tignac,  however,  was  of  a  more  enterprising  spirit.    He 
extended  the  range  of  settlement  to  the  shores  of  Lake 
Ontario,  built  there  a  fort  to  which  his  own  name  was 
given,  and  opened  an  intercourse  with  the  tribes  who 
roamed   over  the  boundless  plains  westward  of  the 
AUeghanies.    Not  content  with  this,  he  determined  to 
explore  the  mighty  strea^n  which  was  said  to  pour  its 
stupendous  current  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  of 
all  the  streams  then  known  in  America,  but  toward 
some  distant  ocean  that  lay  far  in  the  south  and  .vest 
In  the  existing  darkness  as  to  the  boundaries  of  the 


^ 


66 


ETHAN  AJXEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


:;]! 


continent,  it  was  concluded  tliat  this  conld  only  be  the 
Mer  Vermeio,  or  Gulf  of  California,  by  which  it  was 
hojjed  that  the  long-sought  passage  might  be  found  to 
the  golden  regions  of  India.    The  strongest  raotives, 
therefore,  impelled  the  count  to  strain  every  effort  for 
its  discovery.    There  was  no  want  of  bold  and  fitting 
men  ready  to  engage  in  the  enterprise.    M.  Joliet,  with 
bvit  gIx  white  men  and  two  Indians  for  guides,  setting 
fohb  in  two  bark  canoes,  undertook  to  cross  this  great 
contia^snt.     Proceeding  to  Lake  Michigan,  they  passed 
by  wi^j  of  the  Fox  and  Wisconsin  rivers  to  the  Missis- 
sippi.   Floating  down  the  current,  they  heard  in  a  few 
days,  from  the  right,  the  roar  of  a  great  stream,  and 
soon  after  saw  another  river,  with  even  a  more  prodicr- 
ions  currcDt  than  that  of  the  Mississippi.     Following 
these  two  streams  until  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Arkansas,  they  became  convinced  that  the  Mississippi 
emptied  itself  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  not,  as  they 
had  expected  and  hoped,  into  the  Pacific.     Fearing 
that,  by  following  farther  on,  they  might  fall  into  the 
hands  of  the  Spaniards  who  were  exploring  the  gulf, 
they  determined  to  return  to  Canada.    La  Salle  after- 
ward followed  the  same  route,  and  as  early  as  1699, 
the  French  began  settlomoi  *3  in  lower  Louisiana,  and 
in  1717  founded  Kew  Orleans. 

Being  in  possession  of  the  inland  seas  of  Canada,  as 
they  were  called,  and  of  the  mcuths  of  the  two  largest 
rivers  in  I^orth  America,  the  French  conceived  tlie 
magnificent  idea  of  uniting  their  northern  &nd  south- 
ern possessions  by  a  chain  of  forts  along  the  Hnks  of 
the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  and  by  that  n^eans  of  M>n- 
finuig  the  English  colonists  to  the  eastern  side  of  the 


I 


)E8. 

)]y  be  the 

jli  it  was 

found  to 

motives, 

effort  for 

nd  fitting 

)liet,  with 

!S,  setting 

this  great 

3y  passed 

le  Missis- 

in  a  few 

earn,  and 

e  prodig- 

''ollowing 

th  of  the 

ississippi 

t,  as  they 

Fearing 

into  the 

the  gulf, 

ille  after- 

as  1699, 

ana,  and 

mada,  as 
o  largest 
ived  tlie 
id  south- 
b^Ti.ks  of 
8  of  M>n- 
ie  o^  the 


THE  FEENCH  PORTIFT  LAKE  OHAMPLAra.  67 

Alleghanies.    In  pursuance  of  this  plan    in  t),»  v. 
mi  the,  aseendeC  Lake  Cha™,„ai!:i  3^, 

abJo  force  .ntending  to  erect  fortifications  at  th    IT 
on,n,and,ng  position.    Ko  measure  could  have  b  en 
better  adapted  to  promote  their  own  interest,      t  was 

i  a  d  d'     rrr'"/'  '"''-«'=''■''>'  the  Mohawk's 

the      '    "  •    ^'  ^^  "'^""f^''  «™  '*ke  that 

then  scoufng  parties  found   the  most  easy  and  safe 

passage  ,„  their  excursions  against  the  Engli  h  cololf 

of  Canada,  the  attacks  upon  Montreal  it  was  always 
^n^emplated  should  be  effected  through  the  wat  rTof 

ot"  this   7'  "^^  '""''  "  '"■''<»^  "'  "-  -th  end 

and    L        ""  ':  "™"  "-^  "''"'«  "-^-tion  of  it, 
and  the  command  of  a  large  portion  of  the  English 
and  Indian  frontier.    From  this  commanding  situa^I 
the  French  could  not  only  defeat  the  attempts    fe' 
Engl,sh  to  penetrate  their  ow,,  country,  but  would 
always  have  a  magazine  of  arms  and  ammun  tion    o 
supply  the,r  own  troops  and  s^on.ing  mrtTeTir' 

aiirpStntairsr™''""^^ 

-  Kngjis  Jn;;r  1:^-:;-:^ ^ti:^^ 

■  Joo/fr^X^""'''"  ^''  "'  ^''''  P'«<'^<'  on  the  east 
i  '"^^  "{  ">"  '»■''',  and  the  settlement  beo-an  in  J.Tl 
.now  the  town  of  Addison      n„  1  " 

4  more   convenient     itn  ''''"'™  ''^''  » 

iwhich  th.  K   T  ''"   '''''   *»""<''  however   in 

iwtiicn  the  harbor  was  sood  anrf  tv,„  f   . 

1  gooa,^and  the  fortress  would  bo 


68 


KTHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  nER0E8. 


14 


liiii 


encompassed  by  water  on  three  of  its  sides.  On  this 
spot,  now  called  Crown  Point,  the  French  erected  a 
fort  sufficiently  strong  to  resist  any  force  that  could 
be  suddenly  or  easily  brought  against  it,  and  gave  it 
the  name  of  St.  Frederick.  The  land  on  which  it  was 
erected  properly  belonged  to  the  Six  Nations;  but 
it  was  claimed  by  the  government  of  New  York,  and 
had  been  granted  by  one  of  their  governors,  so  early  as 
1696,  to  Dellius,  the  Dutch  minister  of  Albany.  The 
designs  of  the  French,  and  the  dangerous  consequences 
attending  the  erection  of  their  new  fort,  were  well  un- 
derstood in  the  English  colonies.  The  Massachusetts 
government  was  not  a  little  alarmed.  Mr.  Belcher, 
the  governor,  gave  the  first  information  to  the  gov- 
ernment of  New  York,  of  the  French  proceedings. 
Still,  through  the  passiveness  of  the  council,  the  French 
were  sutiered  to  advance  nearly  two  hundred  miles 
toward  Albany,  and  to  erect  a  fortress  which  would 
enable  them,  in  any  future  war,  to  make  their  assaults 
with  safety  and  success  upon  the  frontier  settlements 
of  New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  New  Hampshire. 

The  war  which  had  so  long  distressed  the  frontiers 
of  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  eifectually  pre- 
vented the  progress  of  settlements  to  the  north  and 
west.  From  1703  to  1713,  the  inhabitants  being 
constantly  harassed  by  calls  for  military  service,  agri- 
culture was  suffered  to  languish,  many  people  were 
killed  or  captured,  a  heavy  public  debt  was  incurred, 
and  the  population  of  the  country  was  vastly  below 
what  it  would  have  been,  had  an  uninterrupted  peace 
been  maintained.  According  to  Hutchinson,  from 
1675,  the  beginning  of  Philip's  war,  to  1713,  five  or 


ROES. 

3.     On  this 
1  erected  a 

that  could 
md  gave  it 
rhich  it  was 
itions ;   but 

York,  and 
,  80  early  as 
bany.  The 
jnsequences 
ere  well  un- 
assachusetts 
Ir.  Belcher, 
to  the  gov- 
Droceedings. 
,  the  French 
[idred  miles 
^hich  would 
leir  assaults 

settlements 
impshire. 
the  frontiers 
actually  pre- 
B  north  and 
itants  being 
service,  agri- 
people  were 
as  incurred, 
vastly  below 
■upted  peace 
linson,  from 
1713,  five  or 


POPULATION  OF  THE  COU^TltY. 


59 


*i 


SIX  thousand  of  the  youth  of  the  country  had  been 
destroyed  by  the  enemy,  or  diseases  contracted  by  tlie 
war ;  nme  in  ten  of  these  would  have  been  fathers  of 
famihes,  and,  in  the  course  of  forty  years,  must  have 
multiplied  to  near  one  hundred  thousand.  The  north- 
ern  and  western  part  of  ]^ew  York  was  a  wilderness, 
little  known  to  the  English. 

Nov  was  the  war  less  embarrassing  to  the  progress 
of  settlements  and  population  In  Canada.    In  1714  the 
whole  number  of  inhabitants,  from  fourteen  to  sixty 
years  of  age,  able   to  bear  arms,  was   four  thousand 
four  hundred  and  eighty-four.     The  standing  forces  at 
that   time  were   twenty-eight   companies  of  marines, 
paid  by  the  king,  containing  six  hundred  and  twenty 
eight  men ;   but   the  Indians  were  numerous,  always 
ready  to  turn  out  on  short  notice,  and  as  they  were  fre- 
quently  led  by  daring  French  officers,  their  incursions 
were  generally  attended  with  distressing  consequences. 
Keheved   from  tlie  war,  the  inhabitants   of  I^ew 
England  now  turned  their  attention  to  their  internal 
affairs,  and  the  improvement  of  their  plantations ;  and 
the  settlers  who  had  been  shut  up  in  fortified  houses 
or  driven  from  their  plantations,  now  flattered  them- 
selves that  they  should  not  again  be  molested  by  the 
Indians.    But  this  was  a  vain  hope,  for  a  renewal  of 
war  between  England  and  France  must  necessarily 
produce  hostilities  between  their  colonies,  and  all  the 
horrors  of  savage  M^ar  must  be  again  sustained.     A 
fleet  sufficient  to  block  up  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  a 
Bmall   invading  army  by  Lake  Champlain  under   an 
able  commander,  would  have  put  r.n  end  to  the  embar- 
rassmouts  so  long  suffered  by  the  English  colonies 


00 


ETHAN  AI.LEN  AJSD  O KEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


1!    i, 


During  tlic  calm  which  followed  the  peace  of  Utrecht, 
the  English  colonics  increased  their  settlements  north 
and  west.    'New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  New  Hamp- 
shire extended  their  grants  of  land  into  the  present 
limits  of  the  state  of  Vermont.      Fort  Dummer  was 
erected  by  Massachusetts  in  1T24,  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  Connecticut  river,  near  the  place  where  the  vil- 
lage of  Brattleborough  has  since  grown  up,  and  was 
thus  named  in  compliment  to  Mr.  Dummer,  lieutenant- 
governor  of  Massaclnisetts.     Other  forts  were  built  in 
its  immediate  vicinity  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Con- 
necticut, and  many  families  settled  near  them  on  both 
sides  of  the  river.     These  pioneers  were  considerably 
harassed  by  a  war,  which  raged  principally  in  New 
Hampshire,  between  the  whites  and  Indians,  and  which 
was  generally  known  as  "Lovewell's  war,"  from  the 
name  of  a  successful  leader  of  the   English.     The  In- 
dians were  said  to  have  been  instigated  by  Sebastian 
Rolle,  a  jesnit,  who  had  long  been  settled  among  their, 
and  possessed  great  influence  with  several  tribes.*    The 
war  was  begun  in  1723,  and  concluded  in  1725. 

*  Rolle  was  slain  in  battle,  while  fighting  against  the  English.    He 
had  been  a  very  active  agent  in.  if  not  the  principal  cause  of  the  war. 
and  his  death  was  considered  a  very  auspicious  event,  by  the  English! 
It  must  be  acknowledged,  however,  that  he  was  a  loss  to  the  litoraiy 
world.      Pievious  to  his  residence  at  Norridgewock,  he  had  spent  six 
years  in  traveling  among  the  various  tribes  in  the  interior  of  America 
and  he  had  learned  most  of  their  languages.    He  was  nearly  forty  yeara 
a  missionary,  twenty-six  of  which  he  had  spent  at  Norridgewock  among 
the  Indians  ;  and  with  their  manners  and  customs  he  had  become  inti- 
mately  acquainted.     His  letters  on  various  subjects,  evince  that  he  was 
a  man  of  superior  natural  powers,  which  had  been  improved  by  an  edu- 
cation  in  a  college  of  Jesuits  in  Europe.    With  the  learned  languages  he 
was  thoroughly  acquainted,  and  by  hi«  a.^iduity,  he  had  taught  rnauy 


LOUISBOUKO. 


61 


nn^  S  '  r         """"'""  ^'"^"''^  ^"  »«"'"^'  France 

ami  8pai„  wh,cl.  agam  involved  the  colonies  in  l.os- 

.l.t,e9  w,th  the  enemies  of  the  mother  country  and 
^.e,r  Ind,an  allies.    The  savages  took  up  the  hatchet 
w.th   great  alacnty,  and   the  frontier  posts  suffered 
severely.     Commeree,  in   general,  and  especially  the 
fishenes    suffered  great   injury  from  privateers  fitted 
out  at  Lomsbourg,  a  French  port  on   Cape  Breton. 
Its  s.tuat,on  gave  it  such  importance,  that  nearly  six 
m.mon.  of  dollars  had   been  expended  on  its  fortifi- 
cations.   The  place  was  deemed  so  strong  as  to  de- 
serve  the  appellation  of   the  Dunkirk  of  America 
in  peace,  it  was  a  safe  retreat  for  the  ships  of  France' 
bound   homeward  from  the  East  and  West  Indies' 
In  war,^  it  gave  the  French  the  greatest  advantages 
for  rummg  the  fishery  of  the  northern  English  colonfes 
and  endangered  the  loss  of  Nova  Scotia.    The  redud 

of  the  highest  importance  to  New  England ;  and  Mr. 

of  hi,  o„„™r«  ,„  red  =n,l  write,  and  to  carre.p„„d  witli  him  i„  tei, 
own  l»„,„age  With  ,he  principal  clergymen  of  Bc»t„„,  he  held  a  c„ 
reyndence  ,n  U.in.  He  p«e...d  great  *i„  i„  c  „.rovel  Id 
niade  „me  attempt,  at  Indian  poetr,.  B,  a  compliance  wit  1  In' 
dmn  mode  of  life,  and  a  gentle,  condescending  deportment  he  h,d 
gamed  the  aifectioos  of  the  eavage,.  Bnt  ho  ..ed'the  ZT^'I^ 
a  ncent,™  to  Indian  fe^city,  and  even  kept  a  flag,  on  which  waTZ 
p.cted  acrosa  snrronnded  by  bow,  and  arrow,,  which  he  „,ed  ,o  hot, 

No,  T  r  '"*"«'"*  '"  '"^  """"T""-      A  dictionary  of  tU 

Kondgewock  language,  composed  by  him,  wa,  found  among  hi'  paper, 
winch  1.  now  dep„,i,ed  in  the  library  of  Harvard  college.  U  i,  a  72 
volume  o.  Ave  hundred  page,.  R„„e  wa,  in  the  ,ixly.  Jnlyear  of 
hie  age  when  he  was  killed.  Hi,  „a,„™I  .„„.  by  an  iLian  wlLwh' 
lad  «,rv«l  h,m  a,  a  lanndre,,.  wa,  ,1.„  ,l,i„  during  the  war 


62 


ETUAN  ALLEN  AND  GliEEN-MOUNTAIN  IIEKOES. 


w 


Vaughan  of  Kew  Hampshire,  who  had  often  visited 
that   place  as   a  trader,  conceived    the  ]jroject   of  an 
expedition  against   it.     lie  communicated   it  to  Gov- 
eruor  Shirley,  and  being  ardent  and  enthusiastic,  con- 
vinced  him  that  the  enterprise  was  practicable,  and 
inspired  him  with  his  own  enthusiasm.     Early  in  Jan- 
uary, 1745,   before   he   received   any   answer  to   tho 
communications  he  had  sent  to  England  on  the  sub- 
ject,  he   requested   of  the   members   of  the  general 
court,  that  they  would  lay  themselves  under  an  oath 
of  profound  secrecy  in  regard  to  a  proposal  of  very 
great  importance.     They  readily  took  the  oath,  and 
he  communicated   to   them  the  plan  which   he  had 
formed   of  attacking  Louisbourg.     The  proposal  was 
at  first  rejected,  but  it  was  finally  carried  by  a  ma- 
jority of  one.     Letters  were  immediately  dispatcher 
to  all   the  colonies,  as  far  as   Pennsylvania,  request 
ing  their  assistance,  and  an  embargo  on  their  ports 
Forces  were  promptly  raised,  and  William  Pepperreb 
was   appointed   commander  of  the  expedition.    This 
officer,  with  several  transports,  sailed  from  Kantucket 
on  the  24th  of  March,  and  arrived  at  Canso  on  the 
4th   of  April.    Here  the  troops,  joined   by  those  of 
:N'ew  Hampshire  and  Connecticut,  amounting  collec- 
tively  to   upward   of  four  thousand,   were   detained 
three  weeks,  waiting  for  the  ice,  which  environed  the 
island   of  Cape  Breton,  to   be  dissolved.    At  length 
Commodore  Warren,  agreeably  to  orders  from  England 
arrived  at  Canso  in  the  Superbe,  of  sixty  guhs,  with 
three  other  ships  of  forty  guns   each ;   and,  after  a 
consultation    with   the  general,   proceeded    to   cruise 
before  Louifihourg.    The  general  soon  after  sailed  with 


1 


:iOES. 

;en  visited 
iect   of  an 
it  to  Gov- 
astic,  con- 
jable,  and 
ly  in  Jan- 
cr   to   tlio 
I  the  8ub- 
B  general 
r  an  oath 
.1  of  very 
3ath,  and 
he   had 
)osal  was 
by  a  ma- 
ispatcher' 
,  request 
Bir  ports 
epperreli 
m.    This 
antucket 
0  on  the 
those  of 
g  collec- 
detained 
)ned  the 
t  length 
ilngland, 
ins,  with 
after  a 
)  cruise 
led  with 


blEGE  OF  LOOISBouitG. 


6d 


the  whole  fleet ;   and   on   the  30th  of  April,  coming 
to  anchor  at   Chapeaurouge  Bay,  landed   his   troops 
Lieutenant-colonel  Vaughan   conducted   tiie  first   col- 
umn  through  the  woods  within  sight  of  Louisbour.. 
and  saluted  the  city  with  three  cheers.     At  the  head 
ot  a  detachment,  chiefly  of  the  New-Hampshire  troops, 
he  marched  in  the  niglit  to  the  north-east  part  of  the 
harbor,  where  they  burned  the  warehouses  containing 
the  naval  stores,  and  staved  a  large  quantity  of  wine 
and   brandy.     The  smoke  of  this  fire,  driven  by  the 
wmd  mto  the  grand  battery,  so  terrified  the  French 
that,  spiking  the  guns,  they   abandoned   it  and   re- 
tired to  the  city.     The  next  morning,  Yanghan  took 
possession    of  the    deserted    battery;    but    the    most 
difiicult  labors  of  the  siege  remained  to  be  performed. 
I  he  cannon  were  to  be  drawn  nearly  two  miles  over 
a  deep  morass,  within  gun-shot  of  the  enemy's  prin- 
cipal  fortifications  ;  and  for  fourteen  nights  the  troops 
with    straps    over   their   shoulders,   sinking   to   their 
knees  m   mud,  were  employed   in   this  arduous   ser- 
vice.    The  approaches  were  then  begun  in  the  mode 
which  seemed  most  proper  to  the  shrewd  understand- 
ings  of  untaught  militia.     Those  ofiicers   who  were 
skilled    in    the   art   of  war,   talked    of  zig-zags    and 
epaulements;  but  the  troops  made  themselves  merry 
with   the   terms,  and   proceeded   in  their  own   way 
By  the  20th  of  May,  they  had  erected  five  batteries* 
one   of  which   mounted   five  forty-two-pounders,  and 
did   great  execution.     Meanwhile,  the   fleet   cruising 
m   tke  harbor  had   been  equally  successful ;   it   cap"^ 
tured  a  French  ship  of  sixty-four  guns,  loaded  with 
stores   for   the  garrison,  to  whom    the   loss   was   aa 


64 

(li'stri 


KTIfAN  AJ.LEN  A^TT)  OREKN-MOUNTAIN  ireuOES. 


the 


i-essing  as  to  lue  oesiegeis  the  capture  was  .ur- 
tuimte.  English  ships  of  war  were,  bosidee,  con- 
tinually arriving,  and  added  such  strength  to  the 
fleet,  that  a  combined  attack  upon  the  town  was 
ro8oIved  upon. 

Discoaniged  by  these  adverse  events  and  menacing 
appearances,    Duchumbon,    the    French    commander 
determined  to  surrender ;  and,  on  the  16th  of  June,' 
1745,  articles  of  capitulation  were  signed.    After  the 
surrender  of  the  city,  the  French  flag  was  kept  flying 
on    the  ramparts,  and   several   rich   prizes  were  thus 
decoyed.     Two   East-Indiamen,   and    one  South   Sea 
ship,  valued   at  six  hundred  thousand   pounds,  were 
taken   by  the  squadron  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbor 
Th.8    expedition   was    one  of   the  most  remarkable 
events  in  the  history  of  North  America.     It  was  not 
less  hazardous  in  the  attempt,  than  successful  in  the 
execution.     It    displayed   the   enterprising   spirit   of 
New  England;    and    though   it  enabled    Britain   to 
purchase  a  peace,  yet  it  excited    her  envy  and  jeal- 
ousy against  the  colonies,  by  whose  exertions  it  was 
acquired.     The  intelligence  of  this  event  spread  rap- 
idly through  the  colonies,  and  difl-used  universal  joy 
Well  might  the  citizens  of  New  England  feel  so-  -. 
what  elated.     Without  even  a   suggestion  from   the 
mother  country,  they   had   projected,   and   with   buf 
comparatively  little  assistance  achieved,  an  enterprise 
of  vast  importance  to  her  and  to  them.     Their  com- 
merce  and  fisheries  were  now  secure,  and  their  mari- 
time  cities   relieved   from   all   fear  of  attack  from   a 
quarter^  recently  so   great   a   source   of  dread    and 
discomfort. 


FRENCH  FLEET  DISi-ERSED.  (^ 

Fired  with  resentment  at  their  Jobs,  the  Frencli  uvmIo 
ennwvdunivy  exertions   to  retrieve  it,  and   to  inflict 
chastisement   on   Kew  England.     The   next  sunnner 
they  dispatched   to   the  American   coast  a  powerful 
fleet,  carrying  a  large  number  of  soldiers.     The  news 
of  Its  apj.roach  spread  ter-or  throughout  New  England 
but  an  uncommon  succession  of  disasters  deprived  it 
of  all    power  to   inflict  injury.     After  remaining   a 
shor    time  on  the  coast,  it  returned    to  France,  hav- 
)ng  lost  two  admirals,  both  of  whom,  it  was  supposed, 
put  an   end   to  their  lives  through   chagrin  ;    having 
also,    by   tempests,   been   reduced   to   one-lialf  of  its 
.ormer  force,   without   eflecting   any.  of  the    objects 
anticipated.  '' 

In  former  ware,  several  routes  had  been  traversed 
by  the  enemy  in  approaching  the  frontiers  of  the  New- 
England  colonies  from  Canada.    One  by  the  river  St 
France  through   Lake  Memphremagog  *  thence  ove.^ 
portages  to  the  Pasnmeic  river,  which  empties  into  the 
Connecticut  at  Barnet.      Another  was  through  lake 
Champlam  by  the  present  town  of  Whitehall,  thence 
np  Wood  or  Pawit  creek,  and  over  the  Green  Moun- 
tarns    o  the  Connecticut.    Otter  creek,  the  Winooski 
lamodle  and  White  rivers,  emptying  into  Lake  Ch'm: 
plain,  were  aleo  frequented  routes  in  paseh.g  over  the 
Green  Mountams  to  the  corresponding  riv:rs  on  its 
eastern  elope  emptying  into  the  Connecticut.      All 
portions  ot  that  territory  were  therefore  familiar  to  the 


l-r 


GO 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEE0E8. 


,     t 


i:: 


French,  and   as   the  scouting  parties  of  the  English 
were  also  penetrating  northward  to  intercept  the  en- 
emy, Yerraont,  which  had  been  the  highway  of  war 
parties,  became  the  scene  of  many  fierce  and  bloody 
affrays.     The  French  fortress  of  St.  Frederick,  (called 
afterward,  by  the  English,  Crown  Point,)  afforded  great 
facilities  for  sudden  and  successful  attacks  upon  the 
English  settlements.    The  history  of  a  war  on  the  fron- 
tiers is  little  else  than  the  recital  of  the  exploits,  the 
sufferings,  and  the  deliverance  of  individuals,  of  sin- 
gle families,  or,  at  most,  of  small  parties.      The  first 
incursion  of  the  Indians  was  at  the  "great  meadow," 
(now  Putney,  Vt.,)  a  few  miles  ,.bove  Fort  Dummer. 
They  killed  a  few  individuals   at  various  times,  and 
carried  others  into  captivity.     One  case  of  heroism  is 
mentioned  with  pride.      IVo  Indians  captured  Wil- 
liam Phipps  in  his  field.    After  they  had  conducted 
him  some  distance,  the  Indians  being  some  distance 
apart,  Phipps  knocked  down  the  nearest  Indian  with 
his  hoe,  and,  seizing  his  gun,  shot  the  other.    But,  on 
returning  to  the  fort,  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  three 
other  Indians,  who  killed  him. 

In  August,  1U6,  a  party  of  nine  hundred  French 
and  Indians   attacked  Fort  Massachusetts,  near  the 
sonHi-west  corner  of  Vermont.     The  garrison  consisted 
of  only  twenty-two  men,  under  the  command  of  Ser- 
geant  Hawks.      Notwithstanding    the   inferiority   of 
his  force,  this  brave  officer,  knowing  the  character  of 
the  French  commander,  resolved  to  defend  the  place 
to  the  last  extremity.     For   twenty-eight  hours,  with 
small-arms  only,  and  a  scanty  supply  of  ammunition, 
he  resisted  the  efforts  of  the  enemy,  and  kept  them  at 


OES. 

B  English 
at  the  en- 
iy  of  war 
id  bloody 
'k,  (called 
ded  great 
upon  the 

the  fron- 
3loits,  the 
Is,  of  sirs- 
The  first 
neadow," 
Dummer. 
nes,  and 
jroism  is 
red  Wil- 
)nducted 
distance 
!ian  with 

But,  on 
of  three 

French 
lear  the 
onsisted 

of  Ser- 
)rity  of 
acter  of 
le  place 
rs,  with 
unition, 
;hem  at 


nEROISM  OF  SERGEANT  HAWKS. 


67 


i 


a  respectful  distance.     Habituated  to  sharp-shootinfr 
the  garrison  singled  out  the  assailants  wherever  they 
exposed  themselves,  and  brought  them  down  at  Ion' 
shot       Instances  occurred  in  which  the  enemy  wore 
thus   tilled,   at   the   extraordinary   distance   of  sixty 
rods;  and  they  often  fell  when  they  supposed  them, 
selves  m  perfect  security.     Having  at  length  expended 
most  ot  his  ammunition,  the  brave  commander  reluc- 
tantly consented   to  submi     and   a   capitulation   was 
agreed  upon,  by  which  the  garrison  were  to  remain 
prisoners  of  war  until  exchanged  or  redeemed,  to  be 
humanely  treated,  and  t    be  shielded  from  the  cruelty 
ot  the  Indians.     Yaudreuil,  in  violation  of  the  articles 
ot  capitulation,  delivered  one  half  of  the  captives  into 
the  hands  of  the  irritated  Indians.     Hawkc*  lost  but 
one  man  during  the  siege,  but  the  enemy,  according  to 
inrormation  afterward  obtained,  had  forty-seven  killed 
or  badly  wounded. 

In  the  mean  time,  Shirley,  having  effected  the  con- 
quest of  Louisbourg,  which  must  ever  remain  one  of 
the  hardiest  enterprises  recorded  in  military  annal. 
determined  on  the  conquest  of  Canada.  His  plan' 
like  all  previous  ones  for  the  accomplishment  of  that 
purpose,  contemplated  a  simultaneous  attack  on  Quebec 
by  a  fleet,  and  an  expedition  by  the  way  of  Lake 
Uiamplain  against  Crown  Point  and  Montreal.  Like 
the  others,  ill-success  attended  this  enterprise. 

in  ihfr'r  f,rf"  r  '^  ^'^  ""^  ^'  lieutenant-colonel  in  the  army, 
.n  he  ,.ar  of  1755,  and  was  at  the  attack  on  Ticondero,a  in  175R,  and 
w.th  the  anny  .„  the  conquest  of  Canada.    Bold,  hardy,  and  enterpr  sine, 

n.t  usted  w.th  Hn,K„.tar.t  con.mands.  He  was  no  less  valued  by  the  in- 
habuants  of  Deerfield,  his  native  town,  for  his  civil  qualitiea 


68 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  nEROKS 


i    I 


m 


l^n 


Early  in  the  year  1747,  the  fort  at  IN'umber  F(  t.^ 
(now  Charlestown,)  near  Fort  Dummer,  was  attacked 
by  a   party  of  three   hundred   French   and   Indians, 
under  the  command  of  a  Frenchman  named  Debeline. 
It  was  defended   by  Captain  Phinehas   Stevens,  and 
thirty  men.     The  fort  being  constructed  of  combustible 
materials,  the  enemy  believed  it  possible  to  set  it  on 
fire,  and   thereby  compel   the   garrison   to  surrender 
without  further  opposition.     To  effect  this,  the  neigh- 
boring fences,  and  a  log  hut  about  forty  rods  to  wind- 
ward, were   soon   set   on  fire,  and   as   tlie  wind  was 
strong,  the  flames  approached,  and  covered  the  fort 
with  a  dense  body  of  smoke,  through  which  was  heard 
the  terrifying  yell  of  the  savages,  and  a  constant  roar 
of  musketry.     Undaunted,   the   brave  little  garrison 
resolved    to  defend   their  post   to  the  last  extremity, 
and    a  novel   scheme  was  adopted   to  extinguish  the 
approaching  flames,  which  now  began  to  threaten  its 
destruction.     By  great  exertions,  no  less  than  eleven 
trenche?,  or  subterranean  galler- es,  were  carried  under 
the  walls,  of  such  a  depth  that  men  standing  in  them 
to   extinguish    the   fire   on    the   exterior   walls,   were 
completely   protected   from   the   shot  of  the   enemy. 
Buckets   of  water,  from   a  well  within,  were  handed 
to  the  men,  who  kept  the  parapet  constantly  moist- 
ened.    Several  hundred  barrels  were  thus  expended, 
and   the  fort  rendered   perfectly  secure  from  the  ap- 
proaching flames.     In   the   mean   time,   a   brisk   fire 
was  continued  upon  the  enemy,  when  they  could  be 
distinguished    through   the    smoke.     Thus   baffled   in 
his   plan,  Debeline   resolved    to   carry  the   place   by 
other  means ;  a  sort  of  carriage  was  prepared,  loaded 


i:.l 


E8 

er  F(  t.i' 
attacked 
Indians, 
Debeline. 
sns,  and 
ibustible 
iet  it  on 
iirrender 
e  neigh- 
to  wind- 
ind  was 
the  fort 
IS  heard 
ant  roar 
garrison 
t  rem  it  J, 
lish  the 
aten  its 

eleven 
1  under 
in  them 
s,  were 
enemy, 
handed 

moif.t- 
aended, 
the  ap- 
sk  fire 
)nld  be 
fled  in 
ace  by 
loaded 


DEFENSE  OF  NUMBER  FOUR.  gy 

With   burning  fagots,   and    forced    toward    the   fort  • 
flammg  arrows  were  also  tried,  but  his  eftorts  to  fire 
the  place  proved  abortive.     On  the  second  day,  De- 
behne  proposed  a  cessation  of  hostilities  until  sunrise 
the   next   morning,  to  which   Stevens   assented;   and 
m  the  morning,  before  the  time  had  expired,  Deboline 
approached  with   fifty  men,  under  a  flag,  which   he 
planted  within    twenty  rods   of  the   fort.     A   parley 
was  then  agreed  on,  and  Stevens  admitted  a  lieutenant 
and  two  men  into  the  fort  as  hostages,  and  the  same 
number  were^  sent  out   to  Debeline,  who  demanded 
timt  the  garrison  should   lay  down  their  arms,  pack 
up   their  provisions   in   blankets,  surrender   the  fort 
and   be  conducted   prisoners   to  Montreal;   and    Ste- 
vens was   requested   to   meet   him  without   the   fort 
and   give  an   answer.     Stevens  accordingly   met   the' 
^rench  commander,  but  before  he  had  time  to  return 
his   answer,   Debeline   threatened   that   if  the   t^nm 
were  rejected,  the  fort  should  be  stormed,  and  in  case 

be'l   r  T  ''"''  ^'  t'"ed,  the  garrison  should 
be  put   to   the   sword.     Stevens   coolly   replied,  that 
as  he  had  been  intrusted  by  his  government  with  the 
command  of  the  forf,  he  should  hearken  to  no  terms 
"ntil  he  was  satisfied  that  he  could  no  longer  defend 
^t     Stevens  returned  to  the  fort  and  found  his  men 
unanimously  determined   to  defend   the  place  or  die 
m    the  attempt.     This   resolution  was   communicated 
to  the  French  commander  about  noon;  the  hostages 
were  exchanged,  and  the  firing  was  renewed  with  a 
shout  from  the  Indians,  and   it  continued  until  day- 
hght  the  next  morning,  when  Stevens  was  familiarly 
saluted  w.tb  a  ''good  morning"  fVom  the  enemy,  and 


70 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEK0E8. 


a  proposition  was  made  for  a  cessation  of  arms  for 
two  hours.  Soon  after,  two  Indians  approached  with 
a  flag,  and  promised  that  if  Stevens  would  sell  them 
provisions,  they  would  leave  the  place  without  further 
efforts.  In  reply,  they  were  told  that  five  bushels  of 
corn  would  be  given  for  each  captive  in  Canada,  for 
whom  they  should  give  hostages,  to  remain  until  the 
captives  should  be  delivered.  In  the  attack  which 
continued  three  days,  thousands  of  balls  were  poured 
upon  the  fort,  yet  not  a  man  of  the  garrison  was 
killed,  and  only  two  wounded.  Debeliue,  convinced 
that  he  could  not  operate  upon  the  fears  of  his  enemy, 
or  gain  possession  of  the  place  without  an  assault, 
continued  a  distant  fire  a  short  time ;  then  reluctantly 
withdrew  f»-om  the  fort.  When  the  intelligence  of 
this  brave  defense  was  received  at  Boston,  Commo- 
dore Sir  Charles  Knowles,  who  happened  to  be  at 
that  station,  was  so  highly  gratified  at  the  conduct 
of  Stevens,  that  he  sent  him  an  elegant  sword ;  and 
Number  Four,  when  incorporated  into  a  town  in 
1753,  was  called  after  the  commodore's  name,  Charles- 
town.  It  should  have  been  named  after  its  heroic 
defender. 

Although  bafiled  in  their  attempt  on  Number  Four,* 
Debeline's  forces  remained  on  the  frontiers,  divided 
into  small  parties,  and  were  engaged  in  several  severe 
skirmishes  with  the  hardy  English  pioneers.  Fort 
Dummer,  Bridgman's  fort,  and  others,  were  the  scenes 
of  some  of  these  affrays.     Others  occurred  with  bands 

•  This  was  one  of  the  four  townships  granted  on  the  east  side  of  tlie 
Connecticut  by  Massachusetts,  and  then  distinguished  by  no  other  name 
than  their  number. 


)E8. 

arms  tor 
;hed  with 
sell  them 
Qt  further 
•ushela  of 
inada,  for 

until  the 
ck  which 
•e  poured 
•ison  waa 
convinced 
is  enemy, 
1  assault, 
jluctantly 
gence   of 

Commo- 

to  be  at 
5  conduct 
ord ;  and 

town  in 
,  Charles- 
ts   heroic 

er  Four,* 
,  divided 
^al  severe 

•8.  Fort 
he  scenes 
ith  bands 

t  side  of  tlie 
>  other  name 


BATTLE  HEAR  FORT  DUM^rER.  71 

Of  colonial  ran.^ers,  who  made  frequent  excursions  ovc- 
the  Green  Mountains,  and  sometimes  to  the  vicinity 
of  Crown  Pomt.     One  of  these  bands  of  rangers,  con^ 
Bisting  ot  forty  men,  under  the  command  of  Captain 
Hobbs,  met   the   enemy  twelve   miles   west   of  Fort 
Dummer.     The  latter,  one  hundred  and  fifty  in  num- 
ber, were  coinmanded  by  a  half-breed  named  Sackett. 
Confident  of   victory  from  their  immense  superioritv 
in   number,  the   enemy  rushed   up  impetuously,  bJt 
were  checked  by  the  well-directed  fire  of  Ilohbs     The 
two  commanders  had  been  known  to  each  other  in  time 
of  peace,  and  were  celebrated   for  their  intrepidity. 
Sackett,  who  could  speak  English,  in  a  stentorian  voice 
frequently  called  upon  Hobbs  to  surrender,  and  threat- 
ened,  m  ease  of  refusal,  to  rush  in  and  Sacrifice  Ms 
en  with  the  tomahawk.    Hobbs,  in  tones  which  shook 
i;e  forest,  as  often  returned   a  defiance,  and  urged 
Ins  enemy  to  put  his  threat  in  execution.     The  acL 
Tentir  he"^     undaunted  resolution,  and,  not  unfre- 
•  uentlj    the  enemy  approached  Hobbs'  line,  but  were 

nven  back   to  their  first  position,  by  the' fatal   fi 
o    his  sharp-sighted  marksmen;  and  thus  f^,ur  hou  s 
elapsed  without  either  side  giving  up  an  inch  of  the 
onginal  ground.    At  length,  finding  Hobbs  det^m  n  d 
on  death  or  victory,  and  that  his  own  men  had  suffered 
Beverely   Sackett   ordered   a  retreat,  carrying  offhis 
dead  and  wounded,  and  leaving  his  antagonist    o  con 
tinue  his  march  without  further  molestation. 

In  ITovember,  1747,  a  descent  was  made  upon  Sara- 
toga, where  about  thirty  families  were  collected  A 
I-ty  of  French  and  Indians  concealed  themselves 'neat 
tHo  fort  at  night.    In  the  morning,  a  few  of  the  iX 


72 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MC    ^TAIN  HEROES. 


»    I. 


im  I 


approached  the  fort,  and  were  fired  upon  by  the  garri- 
son as  soon  as  they  were  discovered.  The  Indians, 
pretending  to  be  wounded,  fell ;  then  rose  up,  and,  run 
ning  a  short  distance,  fell  again.  The  English  rushed 
out  to  take  them  prisoners,  when  the  French,  who  had 
been  concealed,  surrounded  and  quickly  disarmed  them 
Several  were  massacred  and  others  were  carried  into 
captivity.* 

The  treaty  of  Aix-la-Chapelle,  in  1748,  again  gave 
peace  to  the  colonies.  Prisoners  were  to  be  released 
on  both  sides  without  ransom,  and  all  conquests 
mutually   restored.      This   war   had   been   extremely 

*   This   expedition  was   led   by  the  Abbe  Picquet,  a  distinguished 
Jesuit  missionaiy.     He  was  born  in  1708.     He  became  very  celebrated 
in  France,  at  an  early  age,  and  seet.ied  rapidly  winning  his  way  to  the 
highest  distinction  in  the  church ;  but  the  activity  of  his  zeal  induced  him 
to  become  a  missionary  among  the  Indians.    He  came  to  America  in  1733, 
and  remained  thirty  yeiirs.     He  established  a  mission  at  La  Presentation,' 
(now  Ogdensburg,)  where  he  also  erected  a  fort    Mills,  workshops  and 
trading-houses  were  completed  in  rapid  succession.    Beginning  with  only 
six  families  in  1749,  there  were  ninety  the  year  following,  and  four  hun- 
dred  in  1751.     His  industry  and  energy  were  remarkable.     He  labored 
from  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  until  nine  ai  night.     Hie  disinterest- 
edness was  extreme.     He  supported  himself  by  his  own  exertions,  having 
a  daily  allowance  of  only  two  pounds  of  bread  and  a  half-poundrof  pork 
from  the  government ;  which  caused  the  savages  to  say,  on  an  occasion 
when  they  gave  him  a  deer  and  some  partridges,  "  We  doubt  not.  Father, 
but  that  there  have  been  disagreeable  expostulations  in  your  stomach, 
because  you  have  had  nothing  but  pork  to  eat.     Here's  something  to 
put  your  affairs  in  order."    Picquet  had  the  address  to  attach  the  Six  Na- 
tions to  the  French  interests.    Three  thousand  of  these  Indians  were  in 
his  colony.     He  afterward  distinguished  himself  in  the  war  which  re- 
sulted in  the  conquest  of  Canada.    When,  in  1760.  he  saw  that  all  was 
lost,  he  went  to  New  Orleans  by  the  w.qy  of  the  lakes  and  the  Missis- 
eippi,  and  about  two  years  afterward  he  returned  to  France,  and  died  in 
1781. 


disastrous  to  the  oolnnioa      nr        ^^ 

-staine.  in  t,.e  eo..ereia,  inttltTo    t    ": 

of  tlu.  French  ;°    TfT^  °'  ""'  <'"«'-<«'»l'™ents 

norths  r^^Z:  ;:;™™:-"-  "^tween  the.'r 
P.  ,.  ,  '  '■'Slims  and  Louisiana.  In  17nn  n,„ 
Eiifflisli  government  m-int,,,)  „  i  '  "" 

the  Ohio  river  to  an  t  /  ■"'*^"  "'"''  °^  '""<'  °» 
I'anj,  formed  for  the  "  "  "''^'^  "'«  0'"°  ^°™- 
i>/;rr;nlta  tr  d!"T'  °'  """'"»"  '"«  -™'". 
French  governor  oo!     /""      '''  "^  ^'"'■''"^-    Th^ 

"".nications  with  Lo„isi»        ,  "'^"'"1^««"  «''  ii^  eom- 
^^;  ^-her  encroachirSr^,,:  't^'r 

Ti.e  Ohi'o  comrrttn'T^T-^''^"''-''--^ 

persuaded  GovLo';£,tty.v^'''"^'™^^ 
to  send  a  remonstrance  to  the  P       i^"""' '"  ^"3, 

«—  W.sn.„™.  «:  tto   farfrT  ;°'"""'-^"'- 


'*%: 


I 


74  ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKICEN -MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

returned  for  canswer  that  he  had  taken  possession  of 
the  country  by  order  of  the  governor-general  of  Can- 
ada, whose  orders  alone  he  could  regard.     The  British 
government,  on   learning   the   claim   set   up   by   the 
French,  directed  the  Virginians  to  resist  it  by  force 
In  1754,   an   expedition   was   conducted   against    tho 
French  by  Washington  ;  but  the  superior  force  of  the 
enemy  obliged  him  to  capitulate,  with  the  privilege  of 
returning  with  his  troops  to  Virginia.     This  was  prop- 
erly the  commencement  of  what  is  commonly  styled 
the  French  war,  although  the  formal  declaration  was 
not  made  till  1756.      In  the  mean  time,  the  British 
government   recommended   the  colonies   to  unite  for 
their  common   defense.      A   convention  of  delegates 
from  all  the  northern  colonies  accordingly  met  at  Al- 
bany in  1754,  and  adopted  a  plan  of  union;   but  it 
was  rejected  both  by  the  provincial  assemblies  and  by 
the  home  government :  by  the  former  because  it  gave 
too  much  power  to  the  crown,  and  by  the  latter  because 
it  gave  too  little.    The  substance  of  the  plan  was  the 
formation  of  a  grand  council,  consisting  of  delegates 
from  the  several  colonies,  subject  to  the  control  of  a 
president-general  to  be  appointed  by  the  crown,  whose 
assent  should  be  essential  to  the  adoption  of  any  meas- 
ure of  policy.     This  council,  it  was  proposed,  should 
have  power  to  enact  general  laws,  apportion  the  quotas 
of  men  and  money  to  be  raised  by  each  colony,  deter- 
mine the  building  of  forts,  regulate  the  operations  of 
armies,  and    concert   all   measures  for  their  common 
protection  and  safety.     It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  this 
plan  of  union  was  perfected  on  the  fourth  of  July  the 
dav  which  nfterward  became   so   mem.orable   in   out 


■'^r 


EXPEniTtON  A0AIK8T  CKOWW  POINl.  75 

Wsf'.ry.     In  the  spring  of  1755,  vigorous  preparations 
were  made  for  carrying  on  the  war.    An  oxpedi  i„„ 
un  or  General  Braddock,  directed  against  the^Fren^h 
on  the  01„o,  was  unfortunate.    Owing  to  the  arrogance 
and   rashness  of  the  commander,  ti;  British   troop! 
were  su^nsed  and  defeated,  with  great  loss,  by  a  very 
.nfer.„r  force  of  French  and  Indians.    GeLll  Brad 
dock  was  mortally  wounded,  and  tho  conduct  of  the 
retreat  devolved  on  ■WaB),in„t„„  „i  • 

„(•,!,  >  .  ,  "'asumgton,  who  was  in  command 
of  the  colonial  m.litia,  and  by  whom  the  army  was 
saved  from  total  destruction. 

Fol-t  Z^T""  "'■"■  ^^''''"''^'^  <'^P'"^'«<'"  "gainst 
ion  Du   Qnesne,  two  others  were  concerted  T  one 

nT::d  ^rV^'"^"™  -'^  ^-"«.--,  to  be  com! 
nmnded  by  Governor  Shirley  of  Massachusetts,  and 
one  agamst  Crown  Point,  to  be  commanded  by  Gen- 
erul  Wdbam  Johnson.  The  former  of  these  met  with 
so  many  delays,  that  when  it  arrived  at  Oswt  "h 
eason  was  so  far  advanced,  that  prudence  fbriade 
the  farther  prosecution  of  the  enterprise 

The  forces  destined   to  attack  Crown  Point,  with 

to  requ,s.te  military  stores,  could   not   be  col  ected 

a     Albany   n„ti,   the  last  of  August,  1755.     T  cne 

he  army  under  command  of  General  Johnson,  prl 

ceeded  to  the  south  end  of  Lake  George,*  desi:n^nt 

0  proceed  to  the  outlet  of  the  lake  at^  Ticonde^ 

and  there  erect  a  fort  to  aid  in  fK«  .■  ^  ' 

Crown  Point.    There  he  learned     if™  ^"™ '^""■'"'' 
CJ.J.   1  j-^^ie  lie  leainea   that  an  armamonf 

fitted  out  in  France,  had  eluded  an  Englishl™  H' 


i 


7n 


ETHAN  ALLKN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  riEROES. 


sent  to  intercei)t  it,  and  had  arrived  at  Quebec ;  aud 
that  Baron  Dieskaii,  commander  of  the  French  forces, 
was  rnyliWy  advancing  to  the  defense  of  Crown  Point. 
Fii.Mlm^'  fi.at  no  immediate  attack  would  be  made  by 
the  English,  and  being  informed  that  Johnson's  camp 
was  not  strongly  fortified,  Dieskau  resolved  on  march- 
ing toward   the  English  lines.     An  express  that  had 
been  sent  out  by  Johnson,  returned  about  midnight, 
bringing  word  that  the  enemy  was  within  four  m'iles 
of  Fort  Edward,  apparently  intending  to  attack  that 
post.     It  was  probably  only  a  detached  party  of  In- 
dians that  had  been  seen  by  the  express.     This  mis- 
information caused   a  severe  disaster.     A  council  of 
officers   was    assembled,   who   advised    that    a   force 
should   be  sent  to  intercept  the  enemy,  whether  de- 
feated or  victorious,  when  on  his  way  back  from  Fort 
Edward.     Colonel  Ephraim  Williams,  with  a  thousand 
troops,  and  Ilendrick,  a  celebrated  Indian  chief,  with 
two  hundred  Indians,  were  accordingly  detached  for 
this  purpose,  on  the  morning  of  September  8th.     They 
had  proceeded  but  four  miles,  when  they  encountered 
the   enemy.     Dieskau,   informed    by   his   runners   of 
their   approach,  had   halted   and   prepared   for   their 
reception,  forming  his  forces  in  a  semicircle,  the  ends 
of  which  were  far  in  advance  of  the  center,  and  con- 
cealed  from  view  by  the  forest.     Into  this  ambuscade 
the   detachment    marched,   wholly   unsuspicious   that 
any  enemy  was  within  several  miles.    Suddenly  the 
war-whoop  resounded  in  every  direction,  and  a  gall- 
ing fire  was  opened  all  along  the  front  and  left  side 
of  the  column.     Williams,  to  obtain  a  more  defensible 
position,  ordered  his  men  to  ascend  the  rising  ground 


jjiii*'" 


"^ 


on  their  right,    iiut  tliis  oulv  l,rui,„l,f  ,i 

other  «•„,,,  of  the  French  iL     £  wTr"'"""  """ 

"-"-■<^,  with  nun,be.  of  tiLr^   W^'^  I'l 

'-'.e.loo.,n,„r„in,.eort^X:      rel:"^/ 
en<«.„nter  was  fe„,i,iaHy  designated.*      ^'  ^" 

As   the   firinnr   Ccarne   npirpr   ,•<• 
Williams  was  defcated  •  aTd    'h      7'   T"'''^''''  """ 
dor  Colonel  Cole,  w^^'^e"    „„tT  '"'""'-^l  "-  »"- 
The  d,eo,n«,ed  s;,.!..::  Tw    •:?" 

bod.es,  and   at  length,  Dieskan's   trlsn.ade  tf"" 
appearance.    The  or,I»,.  „„  i  ,      '  "  ""'"' 

tlie  grenadiers  advanc   I  /'^""'""'^   ^"l-   ^•'"■«'' 

-4aco::;;X:r::rd:^^^^^^^^ 

once  engaged,  they  fon.ht^ith   H^       !  """^  ^'■™ 
resolution   of  vete,nns     Th  '"'""^'^   ""d 

t-^e  grenadiers   i:Tnt,  rLT.nT""   "^ 

Indians  apon  both  flanks  But  a  f  !  1""'  "'"^ 
-".ery  against  these  last,  e!  e  t^fX.  t 
and   secrete  themselves  hehinri    1.  ,  **** 

-hence  they  afterward  n!  i  1  r„nt  a^'  'T 
a"d    nearly  harmless  lire.    GenerarT  .      ""T'" 

--ed,  was  compelled   to  trtotrTe-n,!! 

•  Fnch--«  Histoiy  of  Washington  County 


1^01^ 


^#* 


■^ 


l( 


78  KTIIAN  AIXKN  AND  GKKKN-MOirNTAIN  UKliOKS. 

tlie   command   eubse.iucntly  devolved    upon   General 
Lyman,  wlio  several  times  stationed  liimself  in  front 
of  the  breastwork,  the  better  to  inspirit  the  men  and 
direct   their  movements.     For  nearly  four  hours   the 
battle  lasted ;  and  the  assailed  still  standing  firm  at 
every  point,  Dioskau  was  constrained   to  order  a  re- 
treat.    Tills  order  appears  to  have  been  obeyed  with 
more  alacrity  than  any  that  had  been  given  for  some 
time   previous.     So   hastily   did    the   men   withdraw, 
that  their  leader,  having   been  wounded   in  his  foot' 
was    unable    to  keep    pace  with    them.      Reclining 
against  a  stump  to  obtain  temporary  relief  from  his 
pain  and  fatigue,  he  was  discovered  by  a  provincial 
soldier.     Dieskau,  to  propitiate  the  soldier,  was  about 
drawing  out  his  watch  to  present  to  him ;  whereupon 
the  soldier,  deeming  he  was  searching  for  a  pistol, 
discharged   his   muskof  at  the  baron,  giving  him  a 
grievoua  wound  in  the  hi'p,  of  which  he  died  twelve 
years  afterward.    The  F  onch  retreated  to  the  ground 
where   the  forenoon   f  agagement   had   occurred,  and 
there  paused  for  the  jught,  searching  out  the  bodies 
of  the  slain,  and  rifling  them  of  whatever  they  found 
of  value  upon  them.* 

This  victory  revived  the  spirits  of  the  colonists, 
depressed  by  the  recent  defeat  of  General  Braddock ; 
but  the  success  was  not  improved  by  General  John- 
son. With  an  apathy  quite  unaccountable,  he  failed 
to' follow  up  his  victory,  and  drive  the  French  from 
Lake  Champlain,  as  he  might  easily  have  done.  The 
remainder  of  the  campaign  was  employed  in  the 
erection  of  Fort  William  Henry,  at  the  head  of  Lake 

•  Fitcli's  Ristoiy  of  Wnshingtou  County 


• 
^^f 


Af 


REVIEW  OF  TUE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1755.        79 

ueorge.     In  the  full    his   army  was  discharged,  with 
the  excpnfion  of  six  liundred  men  who  occupied  the 
forta  on  thj  frontier.     The  French  retained  possession 
of  7icon,:eroga,*  and   fortilied   it.    Thus  ended   the 
car..^.  ...   of  1755.    It  opened  with  the  brightest  pros- 
pects;   -mniense   preparations    had    been   made,   jet 
not   onn  of  the  objects   of  the  three  principal   exi)c- 
ditions  had  been  attained ;   and,  by  this  failure,  the 
whole  frontier  was  exposed   to  the  ravages  of  the 
Lidians,  which  were  accompanied  by  their  usual  acts 
of  barl)arity.     The  expedition   under  Braddock   had 
been  conducted  with  extreme  imprudence  and   rash- 
ness,  and    had    terminated  in  defeat  and   disgrace. 
The  movement   against   Niagara,  under  Shirley^  had 
been  too  extensive  in  its  plan  to  be  concluded  in  one 
campaign ;  and  at  the  northward,  Baron  Dieskau  had 
given    Johnson    an    opportunity    to    gain    a    victory 
without    leaving   his   camp   or  exposing    himself   to 
danger. 

Ue  army  under  General  John,  .n,  on  the  frontiers 
of  New  York,  although  it  checked  incnrsiona  to  the 
north-west  quarter  of  Massachusetts,  afforded  but  lit- 
tle  security  to   the  frontiers   on    Connecticut  nVer 
The  St.   Francis  tribe  of  Indians,   coramandin..  an 
easy  route  through  Lake  Memphremagog  and  several 
neighboring  streams,  made  frequent  inroads,  and  killed 
many  persons.    But  the  most  disastrous  affair  that 
occurred  on   Connecticut  river,  was  at  Bridgman's 

•  The  original  Indian  „ar.,e  was  Cheon<Ur,ga,  8ig„ifvi„„  „„,„,    ,„ 
W'oii  a-s  the  Indian  nama  ° 


m 


80 


ETUAxV  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MoUNTAIN  IIEKOES. 


d,     i' 


Fort.  A  tbrtiiied  house  had  been  destroyed  at  the 
same  place  in  1747,  and  another  was  built  soon  after, 
and  is  still  standing  in  Vernon,  Yt.  The  Indians 
found  the  men  belonging  to  this  fort  at  work  in  a  field, 
and  shot  them.  Three  women,  with  eleven  children, 
were  taken  prisoners  and  carried  to  Crown  Point. 

Another  band   of  Indians,  the  year  previous,  had 
captured  several  persons  at  Number  Four,  and  had 
taken  them  to  Canada.     Among  these  prisoners  was  a 
Mrs.  Johnson,  who,  on  the  second  day's  journey,  gave 
birth  to  a  daughter,  and   named    her   Cajotwe*    In 
this  critical  situation,  she  had  little  hope  of  escaping 
the  hatchet;  but,  contrary  to  their  usual  conduct,  the 
Indians  treated   her  and   her  infant  with  tenderness, 
carrying   them   part   of  their  route  on   a  litter,  and 
they  took  much  pains  in   nursing   the  infant.     After 
a  painful   captivity,  tliis  little  band   of  sufferers  was 
ransomed,  and  returned  again  to  their  friends. 

The  colonies,  considerably  encouraged  by  tlie  results 
of  the  campaign  of  1755,  determined  to  renew  and 
increase  their  exertions.  General  Shirley,  to  whom 
the  superintendence   of   all    the   military   operations 

*  Captive  Johnson  was  uianied  to  Colonel  George  Kimball,  and  was 
still  livinsr  a  few  years  ago.  At  Vernon,  near  where  she  was  born,  a 
montinient  has  been  erected,  on  which  is  the  following  inscription  :  "  This 
is  near  the  spot  that  the  Indians  encamped  the  night  after  they  took 
Mr.  Johnson  and  family,  Mr.  Labaree  and  Mr.  Farnsworth,  August  .30th. 
1754,  and  Mrs.  Johnson  was  delivered  of  her  child  half  a  miL  up  this 
arook. 

"When  trouble  is  near  the  Lord  is  kind, 
He  hears  the  Captive's  cry  ; 
He  can  subdue  the  savage  mind, 
And  learn  it  sympathy." 

[See  TItompson'H  Gazetecr, 


C 
C 

e 
a 
A 
T1 


m 


♦n»v. 


OPENING   OF  THE  OAMPAIOH   OF    175(5.  gf 

had   been   confided,  assembled    a  council   of  to-  at 
New  :iork    to  concert  a  plan  for  tbe  ensuing  y'ear 
He  proposed   that  expeditions   should    be  carried  , , a 
agamst  Du  Quesne,  Niagara,  and  Crown  Point,  and 
tha    a   body  of  troops   should    be  sent,  by  .',e  way 
of  the  nvers  Ivennebee  and  Cbaudicre,  to  .larn,  the 
ii-ench   f„r  the  satety   of   Quekc.     This    pJan   was 
unan.mously  adopted  by  the  council.    Shirley,  on  Z 
last  ot  January,  returned   to  Boston  to  meet  the  as 
-mbly   Of  Massachusette,   of  which   colony    he   was 
governor^   He  endeavored  to  persuade  them  to  con 
cur  IP    the  measures  proposed;   but,  disgusted  with 
e  proceedings  of  the  last  campaign,  and  especially 
Genera,  Johnson  for  neglecting  to  pursue  his  ad 

opeiations,  unless  the  command  of  their  forces  should 
be  given    to  General   Winslow,    who  had    acquired 
popularity   by   hi.   success  in    Nova  Scotia.      Their 
wishes   were  complied   with,   and   their  eoncr.rreuce 
-ae    then    granted.     In    April,    news    arrived    from 
Great  Britain,  that  the  c^duct  of  General  U-  nsr 
instead   of    being  censured,   was   considered    hw2 
meritorious;   that,  as   a  reward   for  his   success "th! 
^J  had   conferred   upon    bi,„   the  title  of     a  ^ 
and    parliament    a   grant    of   five    thousand   pounds 
«erl,ng;  that  his  majesty  disapproved  of  the  conduc 
of  Shirley,  and  had  determined  to  remove  him  from 
coinmanu.    This  information  not  being  official,  Ge" 
era!  Shirley  continued  his  preparations  with  his  usual 
-tivity  and   zeal.    While   engaged    in    collecting  at 
Albany  the  troops  from  the  different  ..olonies,  Geneml 
W«bb  brought  from  England,  official  information  5 


"*»,. 


82 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HKROES. 


iiiift 


¥1 


his  removal.  On  the  25th  of  June,  General  Aber- 
crombie  arrived  and  took  command  of  the  army. 
It  now  consisted  of  about  twelve  thousand  men,  and 
was  more  numerous,  and  better  prepared  for  the  field, 
than  any  army  that  had  ever  been  assembled  in 
America.* 

The  change  of  commanders  delayed  the  operations 
of  the  English  army.     The  French  were  active ;  and 
on   the  12th  of  July,  General  Abercrombie  received 
intelligence    that    they    meditated    an    attack    upon 
Oswego,  a  post  of  the  utmost   importance.     General 
Webb  was  ordered  to  prepare  to  march  with  a  regi- 
ment  for  the   defense   of  that   place.     In   the  mean 
time.  Lord   Loudon,  who   had    been   appointed   com- 
mander-in-chief  over   all    the   British   forces   in    the 
colonies,  arrived   in   America.     Amidst   the   ceremo- 
nies  which  followed,  the  affairs  of  the  war  were  for- 
gotten.    General  Webb  did  not  begin  his  march  until 
the  12th  of  August.     Before  he   had   proceeded  far, 
he  learned  that  Oswego  was  actually  besieged    by  a 
large  army  of  French  and  Indians.     Alarmed  for  his 
own  safety,  he   proceeded   no  further,  but   employed 
his  troops  in  erecting  fortifications  for  their  defense. 
General    Montcalm,   the   commander   of   the   French 
troops  in  Canada,  began  the  siege  of  Oswego  on  the 
12tl.  of  August.     On  the  14th,  the  English  commander 
liaving  been  killed,  terms  of  surrender  were  proposed 
by  the  garrison,  and  were   agreed   to.     These  terms 
were  shamefully  violated.     Several  of  the  British  offi- 
cers and   soldiers  were  insulted,  robbed,  and   massa- 
cred by  the  Indians.     Most  of  the  sick  were  scalped 
in   the  hospitals,  and    the  French   general    delivered 


'I 


^>,. 


CLOSE  OF  THE  C.IMPAIGN  OF  175f>.  gg 

.wentv  of  the  garrison  to  the  savages,  tliat  bein..  the 
number  they  had   lost  during  the  siege.     Tliosc^  un- 
happj  persons  were,  doubtless,  according  to  tlie  Indian 
custom,  tortured  and    burnt.    In   this  expedition  the 
French  took  fourteen  hundred  prisoners,  and  an  im- 
mense quantity  of  provisions  and  munitions  of  war 
General  Webb  was  permitted  to  retreat,  unmolested,  to 
Albany.     Lord  Loudon  pretended  it  was  now  too  late 
in   the  season   to  attempt   any  thing  further,  thou-di 
the  troops  under  General  Winslow  were  within  a  hw 
days'  march   of  Ticonderoga  and    Crown  Point,  and 
were  sufficient   in  number  to  justity  an   attack  upon 
hose  places.     He  devoted  the  remainder  of  the  season 
to   makmg  preparations   for   an   earlr  and   vic^oro 
campaign  the  ensuing  year.     This  sprfng  had  opened 
with  still  more  brilliant  prospects  than  the  last ;  and 
the  season  closed  without  the  occurrence  of  a  sin.de 
event    that   was   honorable   to   the   British   arms  "or 
advantageous  to  the  colonies.     This  want  of  success 
was  justly  attributed  to  the  removal  of  the  provincial 
officers,  who  were  well   acquainted  with   the   theater 
of  operations,   but   whom   the  ministry,  desirous   of 
checking  the  growth  of  talents  in  the  colonies,  were 
unwilling    to   employ.      Yet   the   several   assemblies, 
thoug;,  they  saw  themselves  thus  slighted,  and  their 
rrioney  aiinuady  squandered,  made   all   the   pr.par  < 
ti'n-,  that  were  required  of  them  for  thencxc  cam^n  ■•n 
..  tne  campaign  of  1756,  two  person.,  who'  were 
destined  to  win  imperishable  honor  in  the  war  ^i'  ^he' 
^volution,   received    their  first   .uli^ary   discipline. 
Those  were  Israel  Putnam  and  John   Stark.      Thoro 
were  no  great  engagements  during  the  vea.  h,  wind' 


64 


CTUAN  ALLEN  AND  GliEEN-MOtJNTAIN  IIEKOES. 


:^- 


Hi  ;!!• 


If;  V  ! 


they  could  distiDguish  themselves ;  but  in  the  arduous 
duties  of  8cout8  or  rangers,  they  were  emmently  useful, 
and  were  soon  found  lo  be  foremost  among  the  skillful 
active  and  daring.  In  January,  1757,  Major  Rogers' 
in  whose  company  of  rangers  Stark*  was  a  lieutenant,' 
was  ordered  on  a  reconnoitering  expedition  down  Uke 
George  toward  Ticonderoga.     Traveling  now  on  the 

•  Stark  was  born  in  New  Hampshire,  August  28th.  1728     His  early 
ife  was  one  of  great  hardship.     In  1752,  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the 
Indian..     While  on  a  hunting  excursion  with  three  other  persons.  L  to 
the  nor  h  of  the  English  settlements  on  the  Connecticut,  and  while  sep- 
arated from  his  companions,  he  was  seized  by  a  party  of  ten  Indians. 
On  being  questioned  about  his  companions,  he  pointed  in  a  direction 
opposite  to  that  which  they  had  taken,  and  thus  succeeded  in  leading  the 
Indians  two  miles  out  of  the  way.     His  companions,  unfortunately,  be- 
coming  alarmed  at  his  absence,  and  ignorant  of  its  cause,  tired  several 
guns  as  a  signal  to  him.     This  betrayed  them  to  the  savages.     But  John 
had  the  courage,  as  the  Indians  were  coming  up  to  tliem.  to  bail  them 
and  urge  them  to  escape.    While  they  were  retreating,  four  Indians  fired 
upon  them,  but,  at  the  moment  of  the  discharge,  John  struck  the  u-uns 
of  two,  and  his  brother  William  was  by  this  means  enabled  ^'    es^pe 
John  was  severely  beaten  for  this.    When  the  Indians  rC   ,wc     to  St 
Francis,  the  captives  were  compelled  to  "run  the  gaunf^      '       ne  of 

them  was  severely  beaten;  but  Stark  snatched  a  hatchet  from        nearest 
Indian,  and  attacked  with  great  fury  all  who  attempted  to  strike  him 
This  pleased  the  old  men  of  the  tribe,  and  won  Stark  much  favor.     He 
appears  to  have  caught  the  humor  of  the  Indians,  and  to  have  known 
how  to  approach  them  on  tlie  side  of  their  prejudices.    On  one  occasion 
he  was  ordered  by  them  to  hoe  their  corn.    Well  aware  that  they  regarded 
labor  of  this  kind  as  iit  only  for  squaws  and  slaves,  he  took  care^'to  cut 
up  the  corn  and  spare  the  weeds,  in  order  to  give  them  a  suitable  idea 
of  his  want  of  skill  in  unmanly  labor.    As  this  experiment  upon  their 
good  nature  did  not  answer  its  desired  object,  he  threw  his  hoe  into  the 
river,  declaring  "  it  was  the  business  not  of  warriors,  but  of  squaws  to 
Loe  com."    This  spirited  deportment  gained  him  the  title  of  "young 
d.ief,"  and  the  honor  of  adoption  into  the  tribe.- See  Everett's  Life  of 
Stark.  ''     "^ 


■'^■i. 


STARK  IN  JJATTLi]. 


85 


Sogers, 


j4 


ice  and  now  cfi-\  c;nAw  d.,.       .. 

approach,   l.astenod    to™"\nd    oTT'  T"'  ^''"^' 

lifm,  Ro.'ors   d;,-o^t„.i  •        """"Panj  ,n  pursuit  of 

t-'o  snow  i„:4,,  ^,:  *;:;;;^  "-i^'  '..piug  o™. 

close  upo  L  u  S;:;:,""''"' '°""'  "■^'--'-^ 

coiled  before  the  lire  tl,.t  n       ,  ™"8ers  re- 

and  cri,„.s„u:„,  t  ,e   now    i^r     n  "r"  ^■"•^-  '"'-' 

;i-earunder"s.r.;j:rr"rji:r 
the  summit  of  another  hill      Ti        i  "^  """^  ' 

iine,andiir„.,,3toori:iLt,^.^^;r;™::'''- 
repelled  every  attack  of  the  eneml  fr  V''"''  ""'' 
""til  nightfall.     Eoffers  Jn'27  '"'"  "  ^■'"'''^• 

by  a  bullet  through  h  s  I  It  T  "T  "''  '"^'^'  "-"^ 
entire  con.nand  Seie 7  S^  7  if'^'  ''■"'  '"« 
"'•  tl.o  men  suggested  that  th^  tht  1""T  '  7'"'' 

the  shot';e.i  t^:.;  "!Jd't;r  tf  r*'  -"'^^ 

depended  on  maintaining  their!  "Id    ,,    !"  "'*"^ 

tl.reat..ned  to  shoot  the  first  Znvo    h     T"  ""*> 

t"  fly.    Evening  came,  and   hrR.el  h      l"'     '''r^' 

the  ronibat,  and  withdrew,  leavi  llf  tT  "'''' 

scattered  i.   ^n  t>,e  h-.,^  .  7      "^  "'*'"'  ""mber 

of  the  inii:si,r;!;:!:iL:''  "'""f^'™"'  -- 

''"-   "'•^'  «'eer   that  knows  uo 


'"v**;''*'/'.'..;)^ ..  J 


***., 


t  .Jl 


!l  '    '    1 


iff 


I 


86  KTHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

waking.      Forty-eight   of  the   rangers   remained   nn- 
wounded,  and  the  company  now  dragged  themselves 
through    the   woods    and    snow   the    livelong    night, 
reaching  the  shore  of  Lake  George  in  the  morning. 
All  were  now  quite  exhausted  with  their  fatigues,  and 
the  wounded  were  wholly  unable  to  advance  further 
on  foot.     Stark  hereupon  generously  offered  to  travel 
with  two  others  to  Fort  William  Henry,  at  the  opposite 
end  of  the  lake,  and  obtain  sleds  for  conveying  the 
wounded.     He  accordingly  departed,  and  reached  the 
fort   in   the   evening.     The  sleds  being  procured,  he 
immediately  set  out  with  them  to  return  to  his  com- 
rades, traveling  all  night  and  arriving  at  their  bivouac 
upon  the  following  morning.     And  finally  he  drew  a 
loaded  sleigh  back  to  the  fort,  reaching  there  in  the 
evening.    He  thus  stood  out  three  days  and  two  nights 
of  severe  and  incessant  toil,  engaged  for  nearly  four 
hours  in  a  hot  combat,  and  the  remainder  of  the  time 
in  traveling  over  snow  Lnd  ice.     Such  was  the  future 
hero  of  Eennington. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1757,  a  council 
was  held  at  Boston,  composed  of  Lord  Loudon  and 
the  colonial  governors.  At  this  council,  his  lordship 
proposed  that  New  England  should  raise  four  thousand 
troops  for  the  coming  campaign,  and  that  New  York 
and  New  Jersey  should  suppj  a  proportionate  number. 
These  requisitions  were  complied  with,  and  in  the 
spring  he  found  himself  at  the  head  of  a  very  consid- 
erable army.  Admiral  Holborn  arrived  at  Halifax  m 
July,  with  a  powerful  squadron,  and  a  reinforcement  of 
five  thousand  men  under  the  command  of  Lord  Howe. 
L(ml  Loudoji  sailed  from  New  York  with  six  thousand 


ES. 

ned   un- 
Binselves 

r     Eight, 

nornino:. 
ues,  and 
further 
0  travel 
opposite 
'ing  the 
hed  the 
ired,  he 
lis  com- 
bivouac 
drew  a 
in  the 
0  niglits 
•ly  four 
he  time 
!  future 

council 
on  and 
Drdship 
ousand 
iv  York 
umber, 
in  the 
consid- 
[ifax  m 
lent  of 
Howe, 
ousand 


('^A:^tvA^oN  OF  1757. 

»-ee  against  Louisbou  '  I  a  Ll  "'\'"'~^''"« 
-•«ed  on  as  the  place  ^^Z^Zl^T'  ^^^^ 
army  destined  for  tl-e  expedition       hi  """^ 

-on  received,  however,  tha  ta  Pr  „ch  fl  :;7"m  T 
sailed  from  Brec-f .  fu/r      •  ,     ^"^^  ^^^^  ^^ad  lately 

six  thonsa  f  rt  a  e'lt""""^"™""^''  ''^ 
"'»t  it  was  alsolfcnde  t?  "  T"'""'-"-'^ '  ^'■<' 
^'">  Which  were  moold^fhe  1X7  Jr"^?"'^ 
"0  1-pe  of  success  against  so  b  S^jel  Z  T 
enterpnse  was  deferred  nntil  the  n  x  ta,  7%"" 
proceeded  to  New  York  inH  ti,  f\^'""^>  Loudon 
dismissed.  '  ""^  ""^'"'''^  "-oops  were 

The  Marqnis  de  Montcalm,  avaihn.  himself  of  .. 
absence  of  the  principal   part  of  fh    v-^  *''* 

advanced  with  an  arnVot'le  thts  /""  ""''' 
"aid  siege  to  Fort  WilLm  enr^  t  tc","'  T' 
won  a  distini^,ished  reputation  Z'  ,,  ^^^™"^*'"'  ^ad 
E-ope,  and  "had  met  w  h  xLordt  """""'  '' 
America.  The  con.nest  of  OsCTJ  ~;-> 
tame  among  the  Indians,  and  given  him  1  ' 

of  almost  all  their  tribes  and  fomme  ™  "^^.r^^^-d 
the  advantages  he  hnH  „„•     j   "™^'<=e.     He  pnrsned 

The  .arrison'at  Fo  ty^^;::,''^::'  '"■■^".  ^--'-• 
tween  three  and  four  th  rnd  ^Zdrtd  °'  ^ 
command  of  Colonel  Konroe,  a  d^  L  fori  V  " 
were  strong  and  in  good  order  and  to  the  ad  f"^ 
-.r,t,  of  this   important   post,  Gener    TmT.; 


88 


J:TIIAN  ALLEN  AND  GEEEN-MOUNTALV  HEROES. 


li  1 


Btationed  at  Fort  Edward  with  an  army  of  four  thou- 
sand  men.     The  French  commander,  however,  urged 
hk  approaches  with  such  vi^or,  that,  witin'n  six  days 
after  the  investment  of  the  fort.  Colonel  Monroe,  the 
commandant,  having  in  vain  solicited  succor  from  Gen- 
eral Webh,  found  it  necessary  to  surrender  by  capitula- 
tion.    TJie  garrison  was  to  be  allowed  the  honors  of 
war,  and    to  be  protected   against   the  Indians   until 
within  the  reach  of  Fort  Edward  ;  but  the  next  morn- 
ing, a  great  number  of  Indians,  having  been  permitted 
to  enter  the  lines,  began  to  plunder ;  and  meeting  with 
no  opposition,  they  fell  upon  the  sick  and  wounded, 
whom  they  immediately  massacred.      Their  appetite' 
tor  carnage  being  excited,  the  defenseless  troops  were 
attacked    with   fiend-like   fury.     Monroe   in  vain  im- 
plored Montcalm  to  provide  the  stipulated  guard,  and 
the   massacre   proceeded.      All   was   turbulence   and 
horror.     On  every  side  savages  were  butchering  and 
scalpmg  their  wretched  victims.     Their  hideous  yells 
the  groans  of  the  dying,  and  the  frantic  shrieks   of 
others   shrinking  from  the  uplifted    tomahawk,  were 
heard  by  the  French  unmoved.     The  fury  of  the  sav- 
ages was   permitted   to  rage   without   restraint   until 
fifteen  hundred  were  killed,  or  hurried  captives  into 
the^  wilderness.     The   day   after  this   awful   tragedy, 
Major  Putnam*  was  sent  with  his  rangers  to  watch 

•  Israel  Putnam  was  born  at  Salem,  Massachusetts,  January  7th  1718 
Courage,  enterprise,  activity  and  perseverance  were  his  prominent'  char- 
actenst.cs  He  was  also  distinguished  for  a  faithful  discharge  of  all  the 
dut.es  of  h.s  station,  and  for  the  most  undeviating  principles  of  honor 
ln>ma„uy  and  benevolence.  I.  1739,  he  removed  to  Pomfret.  Connect- 
3cut,  where  he  applied  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits  until  the  opening 


m 


i:,     nil 
i    •  ;i' 


MA8SACKE  AT  FOKT  WILLIAM  HKNrt. 


m 


1  ^^ 

the  mutions  of  the  enemy.     Wi>..n    J 

siiure  of  the  ]uke    their  /  '   '""'   '^   ^*^« 

reach  of,nuskt'hTr"'  ""  '"""^  '^^^'^'"^  ^^- 

buiklii,™  vet  burning.  •  '  ''»™ck8  and 

„»  .itt  um  ning;  innumerable  ftarrmnnt.    f  i 
man  carcasses  still  brciiin..  in  H    7      ?""*"''  "f'"'" 

dead  bodies,™an„led  wth  "  1  7^'""^^^^'  """^ 
^"i-,  in  all  tire  1  „:^;tr''^"f•''■"^- 
-eever,wheroscattered  arid  wl7j:''rT' 
exclaiming  with  the  poet,  ^''''^^^^ 

"Man  is  to  r«an  the  surest,  sorest  ill  I  » 

i-hus  ended  the  third  camnflln-r,  •     a 
forming  the  iast  ,f  a   er^Tff  -  America;  happily 
folly  and  ,.-'.  disasters  resulting  from 

i^-ob  left  t,,e  colonies  i:::^;JXT  :'■''■'' 
q.Ms,fon  of  Port  William  Henry  tbL      ^  ,  ^     '  '"• 

possession  of  tbe  Utes  Cba^Sai  '  d  0^  "'""' ''"" 
'>}'  tlie  destruction  of  Osvve.n  f  T,  '"'''  ""'l 
dominion  over  tbose  ot£  S;  ^Ll  "  ^^^""■'■^''  "'« 
Lawrence  with  the  waters  of  tb!  It  ""='  *''^  «'• 

««^.'ded  the  easiest  Z^^'Zf.  ""^"^ 
"■es  into  Canada,  or  from  C.!,  ''"'•'™  <=»'«- 

theIast„nitedCa;ad:\?ZoI:a'"B;'r™'™"^' 
possession  of  Fort  Du  Qnesne    H        -^        ^"nt'nued 

~nc,  over  the  rins;;:2'-,r:;ir; 

of  the  war  with  the  fre,,,*  i„  n«  „!,      . 

-"and  of  a  oo„,»„y  „f  „„^„,    ',  :;''™  k'  ™  appointed  to  the  eo„. 

often  came  neat  fa,li„j,  ,„,„  ,,,,  J/^^/  /-"«°'  ""'I  *nge,  and  he 
•'-  f«qne„,  skimishe,,  with  tV™    ^  "'"■■^' '"  ""''^  "W"  « 


^^^j^ 


90 


!■:. 


i     l! 


ii'.-   U' 


1:11 
III 


ETHAN  AJ.LEN  AND  OREEN-MOUNTATN  HEROES. 


control  of  the  country  west  of  the  Alleghany  moun. 


Iigi 


tains.     Ihe  Lritish  nation  was  alarmed  and  in( 
and  the  king  found  it  necessary  to  change  his  councils. 
At  the  head  of  the  new  ministry,  he  placed  the  cele- 
brated William  Pitt,  afterward  earl  of  Chatham,  who 
was   raised    by  his   talents   from  the  humble  post  of 
ensign  in  the  guards,  to  the  control  of  the  destinies  of 
a  might}'  empire  ;  under  his  administration  public  con. 
tidence  revived,  and  the  nation  seemed  inspired  with 
new  life  and  vigor.     He  was  equally  popular  in  both 
hemispheres;   and  bo  promptly  did  the  governors  of 
the  northern  colonies  obey  the  requisitions  of  his  cir. 
cular  letter  of  1757,  that  by  May,  in  the  following  year, 
Massachusetts   had  seven  thousand,  Connecticut  live 
thousand,  and  New  Hampshire  three  thousand  troops, 
prepared  to  take  the  field.    The  zeal  of  Massachusetts 
was  particularly  ardent.      The  people  of  Boston  en- 
dured  taxes  which  took  away  two-thirds  of  the  income 
on  real  estate  ;   one-half  of  the  effective  men  in  the 
province  were  on  some  sort  of  military  duty ;  and  the 
transports   for  carrying  the   troops   to   Halifax   were 
ready  to  sail  in  fourteen  days  from  the  time  of  their 
engagement.     The  mother  country  was  not  less  active. 
While  her  fleets  blockaded   or  captured   the  French 
armaments,   she    dispatched    Admiral    Boscawen   to 
Halifax  with  a  formidable  squadron  of  ships,  and  an 
array  of  twelve  thousand   men.      Lord    Loudon  was 
replaced  by  General  Abercrombie,  who,  early  in  the 
spring  of  1758,  was  ready  to  enter  upon  the  campaign 
at  the  head  of  fifty  thousand  men,  the  most  powerful 
army  ever  yet  seen  in  America. 
In  the  winter  of  1757,  when  Colonel  Haviland  wa*- 


,il .? . 


f 


PITWAM  CONQUERING  FfHF. 


1 


91 

coniinaiidant  at  Fort  Fdu-..,,)    h      i 

the  Jiortii-west  bastion,  took  tiiv     Tl        ...     •'°'"'"^' 
tU.t  f,.  ,    .1  "-''hiooKtue.    Ihey  8tood  but  twelve 

eet  f  -on.  the  .nagazine,  whicl.  cor.tained  three  hundred 
barrels  ot  powder.  On  its  first  discovery  the  fie  1  1 
with  crreat  violpiup     ti  ^"^'-'J^  tne  Hie  racred 

vRin    1       ,     I  "^  commandant  endeavored  in 

vain,  hy  d.schar,nng  some  pieces  of  heavy  ar  it  " 

level  t,,em  witl    ,:;;;/''';r'''  ""T"''  '° 
•1      1      1  "cgiouna.     rutnan   arrived  frn»ri  o« 

.3  an     wi,e,.e  he  was  .tntioned,  at  M,e  mo,  It  ^L" 

mo  .^v,,  ,r„us  attempt  to  extin,,uish  the  conflag™ 
nver,  and    tlie  soldiers    were   emuloved    Jn   k  •     • 

::r':;t  h%r-^"^  '--'^^  oSi^i'  ;?2 

smoke,  60  near  the  sheet  nf  fi      .,  '  *^"™'"P«1  i" 

-PI  ied  with  another  pai'dipped    n  wat    '    017^ 
av  and  fearin,  that  he  wouTd  perish  in   he  /aTef 

S    te tff  r;'r '"^  '  ^-t  he  entreated  that  ;: 
>^^-heharrae.swer.seento\ettXpuui 


j^ 


^J 


^. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


"      32 


!.l 


1.25 


12 
20 


1.8 


U    111.6 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


/. 


// 


4!s 


'9/      ^^       c^'    %s    M 


w.. 


[/ 


Ua 


^ 


<r 


iV 


^ 


-^ 


-r*-. 


<^ 


&" 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145110 

(716)  B7a-4S03 


O^ 


Vj. 


\ 


vV 


^ 


92 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  illTiOES. 


1^      J I 

1 

biili 


i 


Ml! 


descender^,  placed  himself  at  the  magazine,  and  contin 
ued,  from  an  incessant  rotation  of  replenished  buckets,  to 
pour  water  upon  its  blazing  walls.  The  outside  planks 
were  already  consumed  by  the  proximity  of  the  fire,  and 
as  only  one  thickness  of  timber  intervened,  the  trepi 
dation  now  became  general  and  extreme.  Putnam, 
still  undaunted,  covered  with  a  cloud  of  cinders,  and 
scorched  with  the  intensity  of  the  heat,  maintained  his 
position  until  the  lire  subsided,  and  the  danger  was 
over.  lie  had  contended  for  one  hour  and  a  half  with 
that  terrible  element.  His  legs,  his  thighs,  his  arms, 
and  his  face  were  blistered ;  aad  when  he  pulled  oif 
his  second  pair  of  mittens,  the  skin  from  his  hands 
and  fingers  followed  them.  It  was  a  month  before  he 
recovered.  The  commandant,  to  whom  his  merits  had 
before  endeared  him,  could  not  stifle  the  emotions  of 
gratitude  due  to  the  man  who  had  been  instrumental 
in  preserving  the  magazine,  the  fort,  and  the  garrison. 

Three  points  of  attack  were  involved  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1758 :  Louisbourg,  Ticonderoga,  and  Da 
Quesne.  General  Amherst  conducted  the  enterprise 
against  Louisbourg  with  an  army  of  fourteen  thousand 
men.  Preparations  had  been  made  on  such  an  ex- 
tensive scale,  that  the  commander  at  Louisbourg  soon 
saw  that  all  resistan  would  be  in  vain,  and  he 
accepted  terms  of  capitulation.  The  command  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  was  by  this  surrendei  placed  in  the 
hands  of  the  English.  The  expedition  against  Fort 
Du  Quesne  was  equally  successful;  the  garrison  es- 
caping dov/n  the  Ohio,  the  evening  before  the  arrival 
of  the  British  army. 

The  army  destined  to  execute  the  plans  against 


«  Si      h:,i, 


'•^-   ■*■'*:■ 


KOEa. 

and  contin 
.  buckets,  to 
side  planka 
he  fire,  and 
,  the  trepi 
Putnam, 
inders,  and 
ntained  his 
langer  was 
a  half  with 
,  his  arms, 
pulled  oif 
his  hands 
I  before  he 
merits  had 
notions  of 
strumental 
e  garrison. 
1  the  cam- 
,  and  Da 
enterprise 
1  thousand 
ich  an  ex- 
)ourg  soon 
ti,  and  he 
iud  of  the 
ed  in  the 
ainst  Fort 
arrison  es- 
the  arrival 


STORMING  OF  TICONDEPOGA. 


93 


ficonderoga,  was  commanded  by  General  Abercrom- 
bus  and  consisted  of  more  than  fifteen  thousand  men, 
attended  hy  a  formidable  train  o^  artillery.  Early 
m  July,  the  general   embarked   his   troops   on  Lakl 

roga.    AfW  debarkation   at  the  landing-place,  in  a 
-ve  on_  the  west  side  of  the  lake,  the't^ooo    were 
formed  into  four  columns,  the  British  in  th;  center 
and    he  provincials  on  the  flanks.     In  this  order  they' 
..arched  toward  the  advanced  guard  of  the  French 
which,  consisting  of  one  battalion  only,  posted   in  a 
logged  camp-destroyed  what  was  in  their  power  and 
made  a  precipitate  retreat.     While  Abercrombie  was 
continumg  his  march  in  the  woods  toward  TicondT 
roga,  the  columns  were   thrown   into   confusion,  and 
m  some  degree  entangled  with  each  other.     At   this 
juncture,  Lord  Howe,  at  the  head  of  the  right  cen! 
ter  coaimn,  fell  in  with  a  part  of  the  advanced  guard 
of  the  enemy,  which  had    been  lost  in   the  wood  in 
retreatmg  from   Lake   George,  and   immediate  ^     t 
acked  and  dispersed   it,  killing  a  considerable  num- 
her  and  takmg  one  hundred  and  forty-eight  prisoners. 
Ih     success  was  attended  by  the  loss  of  the  gallant 
nobleman,  who  fell  in  leading  the  attack.     The  English 
army    w,tliout  further  opposition,  took  possession  of 
ie' tj:     :  '"%"^  of  Ticonderoga'    Abercrom- 

0    the  enemy  at  that  fortress,  and,  from  an  engineer 
the  condition  of  their  works,  resolved   on  an  Ln"' 

sault.    The  troops  having  received   orders  to  march 
«P  briskly,  rush  upon  the  enemy's  fire,  and   reserve 


i: 


•; 


til    I 


id 


!i| 


:  I 


¥:U 


94 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GliEEN-MOUNTAlN  HEROES. 


their  own  till  they  had  passed  a  breastwork,  inarched 
to  the  issault  with   great   intrepidity.      Unlooked-for 
impediments,   however,   occurred.      In   front    of   the 
breastwork,  to  a  considerable  distance,  trees  had  been 
ftlled  with   their  branches   outward,  many  of  which 
were  sharpened   to  a  point,  by  means   of  which  the 
assailants  were  not   only  retarded   in   their  advance, 
but,  becoming  entangled  among  the  boughs,  were  ex- 
posed   to   a  very  galling  fire.    Finding   it   impracti- 
cable to  pass  the  breastwork,  which  was  eight  or  nine 
feet  high,  and   much  etronger  than   had    been  repre- 
sented, General  Abercrombie,  after  a  contest  of  near 
four  hours,  ordered   a  retreat,  and    the  next  day  re- 
sumed  liis  former  camp  on   the  south   side  of  Lake 
George.     In  this  brave  but  ill-judged  assault,  nearly 
two    thousand    of   the    assailants    were    killed    and 
wounded,   while   the   loss   of  the   enemy,   who   were 
covered  during  the  whole  action,  was  inconsiderable. 
General    Abercrombie    immediately   recrossed    Lake 
George,  and   entirely  abandoned   the  project  of  cap- 
turing Ticonderoga. 

In  the  month  of  August,  five  hundred  men  were 
employed,  under  the  orders  of  Majors  Rogers  and 
Putnam,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy  near 
Ticonderoga.  At  South  Bay  they  separated  the  party 
into  two  equal  divisions,  and  Eogers  took  a  position 
on  Wood  creek,  twelve  miles  distant  from  Putnam. 
Upon  being,  some  time  afterward,  discovered,  they 
formed  a  reunion,  and  concerted  measures  for  return- 
ing to  Fort  Edward.  Their  march  through  the  woods 
was  in  three  divisions,  by  files  :  the  right  commanded 
by  Rogvjrs,  the   left   by  Putnam,  and    the  center   by 


I 


;rok8. 

k,  marched 
nlooked-tbr 
»nt  of  the 
8  had  been 
Y  of  which 
which  the 
r  advance, 
IS,  were  ex- 
b  impracti- 
^ht  or  nine 
)een  repre- 
3st  of  near 
xt  day  re- 
e  of  Lake 
ult,  nearly 
tilled  and 
who  were 
nsiderable. 
5sed  Lake 
ct  of  cap- 

men  were 
ogers  and 
lemy  near 
the  party 
a  position 
I  Putnam. 
Bred,  they 
or  return- 
the  woods 
mmanded 
center   by 


C.U>TtJKK  OF  VmHAM. 


95 


^apta.n  D'LIJ.  At  the  moment  of  moving,  the 
famous  French  partisan,  Holang,  who  had  been  sent 
with  five  hundred  men  to  intercept  their  party,  was 
not  mo,^  than  one  mile  and  a  balf  distant  from  them. 
Major   lutnam  was  just  emerging  from  the  thicket, 

wth  discordant  yells  and  whoops,  commenced  an 
a  ^ck  upon  the  right  of  his  division.  Surprised, 
but  undismayed,  Putnam   halted,  returned   the   fire 

vleTl-'"'  ""'   '"  *'^  ^^^^^  ^^-«--  to  ad: 
thoul  w-i^T  "'^"'     I>'E11    came.     The   action 
hough  widely  scattered,  and   principally  fought   be- 
twee^n  man  and  man,  soon  grew  general,  Tnd  intensely 

to  ^oirtf^'^'T'  ^"'"'"^  ^'  "^"^^  ^^  impracticable 
0  cioss  the  creek  in  his  rear,  determined  to  maintain 

mlTh       /"^^"'  '^  ""^  ^^-P^^'  the  officers   Id 
nn   behaved   with  great   bravery;   sometimes   they 

fdu^^^^^^  "  ^^^°  ^^^^'  -^   --etimes  in' 

of  each  ot  r  For  Sei;\T"T.  ".^^ 

^,  •     ror  nimselt,  having   discharged   his 

ee  several  ti.„e3,  at  length  it  L.,  fl^  t'S 
the  ^u    ,e  „as  pressed  against  the  breast  of  a  large 

hieTt    Tr"*™:'  ''^'^''-     ^'-  -™»-  -ailing 
i  a  t  ""•''^"^""e  attitude  of  his  adversary^ 

and  ht        .      '  '"'^   "'""P'"^''  ""  '«  ™^«nd«r; 

«^^rh:t:^"^  ^°""'' ■''"•  ^- '» --^^ 

The  intrepid   Captains,  D'Kll  and  Harman,  who 
»ow  commanded,  were  forced   to  give  ground,  for  a 


III 


13    I 


•(     I 


i;ii| 


!  |:i 


I 


ii      I 


yr> 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


little  distance ;  the  savages,  conceiving  this  to  be  tho 
certain  liarbinger  of  victory,  rushed   impetuously  on, 
with   dreadful    and    redoubled    cries.     But    the   two 
partisans,  collecting  a   handfnl   of  brave   men,  gave 
the  pursuers  so  warm  a  reception,  as  to  oblige  them, 
in  turn,  to  retreat  a  little  beyond  the  spot  at  which 
the  action  had  commenced.     Here  they  made  a  stand. 
This   change   of   ground    placed    the   tree   to   which 
Putnam  was  tied,  directly  between  the  hottest  fire  of 
the    two    parties.      Human    imagination    can    hardly 
figure  to  itself  a  more  deplorable  situation.    The  balls 
flew  incessantly  from  either  side  ;  many  struck  the  tree, 
while  some  passed  through  the  sleeves  and  skirts  of 
his  coat.     In  this  state  of  jeopardy,  unable  to  move 
his   body,  to   stir   his  limbs,  or   even   to  incline  his 
head,  he  remained   more  than   an   hour— so  equally 
balanced,  and   so   obstinate  was   the   fight!     At   one 
moment,  while   the   battle   swerved   in   favor   of  the 
enemy,  a   young  savage   chose   an   odd  way  of  dis- 
playing his  humor.     He  found   Putnam   bound  — he 
might  have  dispatched  him  at  a  single  blow— but  he 
loved  better  to  excite  the  terrors  of  the  prisoner,  by 
hurling  a  tomahawk  at  his  head ;  or  rather,  it  would 
seem,  his  object  was  to  see  how  near  he  could  throw 
it  without  touching   him.     The  weapon   stuck  in  the 
tree  a  number  of  times,  at  a  hair's  breadth  distance 
from  the  mark.     When   the  Indian  had  finished   his 
amusement,  a  French  ofl3cer,  perceiving  Putnam,  came 
up  to  him,  and,  leveling  a  fusee  within  a  foot  of  his 
breast,  attempted  to  discharge  it— it  missed  fire.    In- 
effectually did   the  intended  victim  solicit  the  treat- 
ment due  to  his  situation,  by  repeating  that  he  was 


S8. 


0  be  tho 
iisly  on, 
the  two 
jn,  gave 
^e  them, 
t  wliich 
a  stand. 
>  which 
:  fire  of 

hardly 
he  balls 
the  tree, 
kirts  of 
0  move 
ine  his 
equally 
A.t   one 

of  the 
of  dis- 
id  —  he 
-but  he 
ner,  by 
;  would 

throw 

in  the 
istance 
ed  his 
J,  came 

of  his 
e.  In- 
i  treat- 
le  was 


PUTNAM  IN  CAPTIYITY. 


97 


m 


a  pnsoner  of  war.     Tl,o  degenerate  Frennhman  A     , 
to  sens  hilitv    viol^nfi,,        i  ^  -^'^"cnman,  dead 

^^'ty,   violently   and   repeatedly   nuRh^A   ^u 

muzzle  of  the  f?iin  ae-ainsf  P,  f        ,      ?    ^      ^   ^^® 

fe""  dgainst  1  utnani's  ribs  anrl  «n  u 
ffavo  him  a  f  rn  .1  ki  ,  .  '      *^  nnally 

of  Ins  pLe  TL  r  "1     "  f "  "'■"'  ">«  •""'-nd 
piece.     Alter  this  dastardly  deed  hp  l^fV  i  • 

At  length,  the  active  intrepidit/of  D^; ,  and  k""" 
man,  seconded  hv  fh«  r..     f      J  ^^  ^  J^u  and  liar- 

lowe  s,  prevailed       T,  ^"T""^  ™'"''  °^  "'^^^  f"'" 
,  pievaiiea.     The/  drove  from  the  fipld   n 

enemy,  who  left  about  ninety  dead  behind  them      A 
tley  were  retiring,  P„t„am  was  untied  bv  7t, 
«'lio  had  made  i.im  prisoner  «  aT     ^  ^  ^'"^""' 
called  master     luI'T    '       ,^''°'"  *>«  afterward 
tanco  from  L    toe  °f  al"    ."'''  '°^  ^""^  ^- 
"i^  coat,  vest,  st^       „     ^    '  "'        T  ''"^P^"  "^ 
-n.  packs  ;f  the  ^^de  'as toTL  te  1  T  '' 
''"«;  "rongly  pinioned,  and  hTs  Zt,  t    ,"     "  "P™ 
together  as  they  could  be  pujld  w  T  "'"'''' 

he  had  marched   th^ou^h  no     ,  "  '""■'^-    ^'''^'• 

painful   manner,  for  S  a  t'^r"'""  P"*'^'  '"  "'- 

(->.o  were  excessive  ra'tigud;?,":,"''  ""^  ^""^ 
His  hands  w-re  now  f        f"^''>  ^"""^d   to  breathe. 

ti.'.tness  of  ;he  ^;i:Tn;t''  '^''''  ''"'^  '"« 
intolerable.    His  T    '  '      ''  ""'  P"""  '>«''   become 

"■e  Mood  d4  edttXV;r^\rl1   '''^' 
hearing   a   burden   »),„       i.-  -"Exhausted  with 

-ith  tlment  e  "u  s  te  b  "  ^''""""'  ''"'  *'""«» 
'-ted  the  IHs  IpreLTTo  ^"l"""""'  "-^  - 
™d  only  grace  he  desir  d  oV  h^  "■''  "^  ""^  ^"^' 
-ould  knock  him  on  X  head  at  "'"'^"'  ""'  '""^ 
hands.    A  French  offi/  ■"•'''  °''  '"""^e  his 

"-od    his  ha  ds   tote     '  T    "f'^  ""''I'"^'"^"'  - 
packs  to  be  taken  off    B  "  p""  '  '"'  ^"""^  "^  "■« 


98 


.  ,i 

j 

'(  '. 

(1 

1 

t 

!<' 


■i 


j 


ETHAIJ  ALLEN  AND  OREEN -MOUNT ALN  HKB0E8. 


cai)tured  bini,  and  who  had  been  absent  with  the 
wounded,  coming  up,  gave  him  a  pair  of  moccasins, 
and  expressed  great  indignation  at  the  unworthy  treat- 
ment his  prisoner  had  suffered. 

That  savage  chief  again  returned   to   the  care  of 
the  wounded,  and   the   Indians,  about   two   hundred 
ill  number,  went  before  the  rest  of  the  party  to  the 
place  wliere  the  whole  were  that   night   to   encamp. 
They  took  with  them  Major  Putnam,  on  whom,  be- 
sides innumerable  other  outrages,  they  had   the  bar- 
barity to  inflict  a  deep  wound  with   a  tomahawk  in 
the  left  cheek.     His  sufferings  were,  in  this  place,  to 
be  consummated.     A  scene  of  horror,  infinitely  greater 
than  had  ever  met  his  eyes  before,  was  now  preparing. 
It  was  determined  to  roast  him  alive.     For  this  pur- 
pose  they  led   him   into  a  dark  forest,  stripped   him 
naked,  bound   him   to  a   tree,  and   piled   dry  brush, 
with  other  fuel,  at  a  small  distance  in  a  circle  around 
him.    They  accompanied   their  labors,  as  if  for  his 
funeral  dirge,   with   screams  and   sounds   inimitable 
but   by  savage  voices.    They  then   set   the  piles   on 
fire.      A   sudden   shower   damped   the   rising  flame. 
Still  they  strove  to  kindle  it,  until,  at  last,  the  blaze 
ran   fiercely   round   the  circle.    Major  Putnam   soon 
began  to  feel  the  scorching  heat. 

His  hands  were  so  tied  that  he  could  move  his 
body.  He  often  shifted  sides  as  the  fire  approached. 
This  sight,  at  the  very  idea  of  which  all  but  savages 
must  shudder,  afforded  the  highest  diversion  tu  his 
inhuman  tormentors,  who  demonstrated  the  delirium 
of  their  joy  by  corresponding  yells,  dances,  and  ges 
ticulations.    He  doubted  not  that  his  final  hour  was 


.1  ,1:' 


I'VTHAU  IN  CAmViTV.  nu 

.aeviiuU^-  coiuo.    iie  summoned   all   hi«   r».  i  .• 
and  coumouud  his  mind  „•  ,■  ^solution, 

admi.,  tu  bid  au  e"    a,  1      t,"  '="™"'^''"--  ^"'^ 

'"■"  a  -.gle  pa.g,  but  Ibr  tk.LZ     '      7   ""' 

"iibctiouate  partner  of  (7       ?  "'"*'-'''"n«>'te,  of  ti.e 
coring.     uTZl^''  '""''  "■"'  <"■  '"^ir  Woved 

w,e.  ago:urj::ii:::;r"'«V'''' '^« 

a  teebJe  btiuL-rle    w.«       .  "'^''"^^  P^st— cature,  with 
oLiu^gie,  was  quittino-   its  In  f  i.^m 

Sir;:;- '  V"*^"™'-  -»5: 

i-sdt;  to  whom  a  savage,  u  ^1  '  /"  ^"'^'^ 
i"man  saerfice  im„,oiatfd  La^  un  'l  "  """'" 
cated   tlie  tiding.     Ti    ,  °^  commimi- 

e  ciuings.     Ibat  commandant  snnmo-i       ., 

-verel^  reprimanded  the  barbarians  wbor2t  , 
powwows  and  beliisb  orgies  he  sudd!„7  .  ?  '"'' 
"a-n  did    not  wanf   *■     !  7    ""''denl)'  ended.    Put- 

I'Vencb  eomnlnTe     ,        '^"'^  ''  S™'''"^-     The 

them,remar:r  iit'z.rdtri"'''''"^^^''' 

into  tbe  hands  of  his  ma^te"  '""  "'  ^"''^'^ 

The  next  day  he  was  aMowed  h;.  ki    > 
casins,and  permitted  to "Lrl  t^h   ?       ""'  """'■ 
pack,  or  receiving  anv  inZ     TT  T^"^  '"^ 
'■anger,  a  little   bear's   mei  „  '^  ^''  '""•^'"« 

"0  sucked   through  hs  "el     If ""  '""'  ^'"^'' 
arrived  at  Ticondero.     and  ^i        •  "'«"'"  '^'  P^^^ 

-nder  the  care  of  a  Cl^^rZ  ""  ''"^' 

ut.u  guard,     ihe  savages,  who 


lii:t 


I 


III    i 

1    :i 


100        KTIIAN  ALLEN  ANT>  OREKN-MOUNTAIN  HKROEi. 

had    been    prevented    from   glutting   their    diabolical 
thirst  fur  blood,  took  another  opportunity  of  manifest 
ing  their  malevolence  for  the  di8aj)pointnient,  by  hor 
rid  grimaces  and  angry  gestures ;    but  they  were  nc 
more  sufiered  to  offer  violence  or  personal  indignity 
to  him.     Colonel  Peter  Schuyler  was  then  a  prisonei 
among  the  French.     No  sooner  had  he  heard  of  Major 
Putnam's  arrival,  than  he  went  and  found  him,  in  a 
comfortless  co.idition,  without  coat,  waistcoat  or  hose; 
the  remnant  of  his  clothing  miserably  dirty  and  rag- 
ged ;   his  beard   long  and   squalid  ;   his  legs  torn  by 
thorns  and  briers ;  and  his  face  gashed  with  wounds 
and  swollen  with  bruises.     Through  Colonel  Schuyler's 
intervention,  Putnam   was   treated    according   to   his 
rank,  and  clothed   in  a  decent  manner.     The  follow- 
ing year  an  opportunity  was  afforded  for  an  exchange 
of  prisoners,  and  Putnam  was  released.* 

•  On  hia  return  from  Canada,  Putnam  was  accompanied  by  Mi-s. 
Howe,  known  as  the  "  fair  captive,"  who  had  been  taken  at  Bridgman's 
Fort  in  1756.  Her  history  was  very  affecting.  Her  first  husband  was 
William  Phipps,  an  account  of  whose  death,  after  having  slain  two 
of  his  Indian  captors,  near  Fort  Dunimer,  has  alieady  been  related.  Her 
second  husband  was  Mr.  Howe,  who  was  also  slain  at  t'  .  f  her 

captivity.    On  the  march  to  Canada,  she  had  endured  ey' 
the  poignancy  of  which  was  increased  by  the  cruel  treat: 
children  received  from  the  Indians.    She  was  taken  to  Cro 
from  thence,  by  the  way  of  Montreal,  to  the  village  of  ..,.. 
her  master  having  failed  to  sell  her.    "Our  provisions."  she  says,  in  nu- 
deeply  affecting  narrative,  "were  so  scanty,  as  well  as  innipid  and  un- 
savory, the  weather  was  so  cold,  and  the  traveling  so  very  bad.  that  it 
almost  seemed  as  if  I  must  have  perished  on  the  way.    The  lips  of  my 
poor  child  were  sometimes  so  benumbed,  that,  when  I  put  it  to  my  breast, 
it  could  not,  till  it  grew  warm,  imbibe  the  nourishment  requisite  for  its 
Bupport    While  we  were  at  Montreal,  we  went  into  the  house  of  a  certain 
French  gentleman,  whose  lady,  on  being  sent  for,  and  coming  into  the 


I.  - 


THE  FAIR  CAPTIVE. 


101 


to   the   Jiuf^h   an„8,  aud    the  result  „,•  Jt  „„, 
.mpona„t.    Of  the  three  e.x,,o,|iti„us,  two  had   2Z 
pletelv  .ueeeeded,  and   the  le.der  uf  the  third  had 

r,::j;r,L::,,:;-~TJ,"f„'r  - '""°'-"'-- 

cliild  („  look  a.,„r  •    Tiem  ..■  ,,       ,     '  '"'^  »  """'»"  """  '«  • 

I  ..Wrv^d  «v„.,U,,  ,.  ;  ,r  °  ':"':'"''  """"l"*  ..»"  me,  i„  which 

n,ed  ,hL  „Li  h  „y  l"  r  '"?  '  '"■""'"'  *"^  """«"■  '  «"- 

-...  whi.h  ,h.  z:°:«:^°:  'r;:t:  :-"„"■« -™'.- 

W,  0?  those  „  f      ;'  ZZlTT:  """^  "'  *"••  "■">  "" 

wa.  permuted  ,„    It    ,  ",'^'r' ""-■  '°:«  -^^  «'W,  U..  How. 
hope;  of  ^cing'hll    .','"''  P~"«<'  "-y  '■'"k.-.l..  «ayvi., 

great,,  emaciated  ™d  almo^^tll  T  toT  ."""""""" "      '""« 

i«^ce.,„i„e,.„, it i„,t„„t„ hi. .ewi«,'  hi e.,r :.;:■,":: ":; 

a.  .f  I  mu.t  have  parted  with  a  piece  of  my  cheek     T  11  ,°'^ 

lodge  w,th  it  that  and  the  two  fiwiog  JJ^^,  ,' 7^""'       ,  "^ 
intervened,  the  Indian.  I  „,„„  '  ^  "lora.ng  that 

away  to  anothe    wigT' '  'JP™",-"  ?'"!»«=«»  »<>'".»„.  „e,  «„t  me 

-  far  fro.  the  o,e  '»«;,:  fdi*  !,*  "  ''"'°  '"^''"'''  '^'"^^  »»' 
I  could  plainly  hear  itTin  '  ^,  '^  '"""'  "'"  ""«"«'.  b"'  'h«t 
During  L  1ZZZ::T''-:°'  "-'■'«""-? '-e»..tion.... 
peri-hlng  with  hu„r  a  /  T  ""'  ™  '""i-"""'/  -"■  «.«  l».i..t  of 
intolerabl.  On  oT^L  °'  '"''^■"""'  ""  "'""""P'  «-»-!rl7 
•hat  one  of  he,  cL  ,eT::  „ twT"  '°'''™''  ''  "  '™°'"^  '""'-• 
determined  ,o  vi,l.  him.  •  Whil?wrb  """  °'"'"''''»"'.  »""  *« 
fair,"  .he  sav.  ■■,],„  •  j  .  ''"'^  '"  ""'"mplating  this  af- 

meLjirire  V.^^  Tor^trm^'Tf'™''"**  '^■'^^- 

fo-  my  poor  child,  if  I  i:r  ir: :  :rr"'  t""  "  -" 

^avtng  oh.ir.ed  leave  of  „y  keepe™  .t^J^ZJ]  ^^ 


102 


KTUAN  ALLKN  ASD  OKKICN-MODNTA!N  liEKOKS. 


ft  i 


k 


;                  : 

i  ,1  (  i 

1           ' 

1:1 

11 -j 


made  an  im,,ortu„t  ec,n,,„6sf,  ?o  the  comP;an,linr, 
tule.,i8  uf  i'ut,  and  tl.o  coufidencu  v.  hid,  thov  in" 
6|-ired,  tJiw  chuiigo  of  (brtmio  -nust  bu  chictiv  a'tti-ib 
utcd  i  and  i„  „„  rcs,«ots  were  these  talcte  ,„,.,o 
i^tnkmgly  displayed  tima  in  the  choice  uf  men  to 
execute  his  plans.    The  advantages  of  this  ean.paign 

fell  .    tl  OUKI,  W,  had  bee,,  k„„cke,l  down  „i,b  a  club"    Two  „f  M,^ 
How.  ,  da„gh,e„  were  of  .„,,..,eab,e  age,  .„d  .o  add  .„  U,.  ale" 
c.  her  m,«,„e.,  ,be  ,„dia,„  «,ec.ed  a  couple  „,  .heir  y„„„„  „e„  to 
mn,ry  tbe,„.    The  Wgb.  a„d  di^™,  which  .he  i„..llige  ce  oHria 
«  .0,,  ocas-oned  to  these  ,„„,■, o„,„,  „ea.„,e,,  added  infinitely  to  he 

ml!,  7'"'  '°  ""-■  ^"™""  "  P"''-™  *a.  her  da„gh.e™ 

Of  the,r  ,„„k    H,p|,,ly,  .h,,  e.,pedie„,  ,uccee<led.     After  M™.  Howe  had 
been  a  year  w,.h  ,he  J„dia,„.  she  wa,  purchased  by  „„  old  Frenchman 
m  whose  fam.ly  new  .rials  awai.ed  her.    She  w^  s,iU  beauZ  and 
both  her  master  ard  his  son,  „1.„  held  a  commission  in  .he  French  armv 
became  pass,ona,ely  fond  of  her,  and  she  was  greatly  embayed  bvhef^ 

r ;:;  d  r  T'  '°  ^'^^^  "^  ^°^  ^"«  p-^  «-*  ^-^  ^-^  pa  i 

h     fiv  .  t '     "  "''"'""  '■"^'  ""^'^  '-  '^'^J  -'-«i  everyone  of 

her  five  sons  to  her.    One  of  her  daughters  subsaquently  n.ar.  led  a  French 

.1^;;:: of  ''i\rr'  '^'"^- '-'  -^'^  ^^^'^  nanativ: 'rt^ 

•ulfenngs  of  one  of  the  earlj  Vermont  matrons. 


CAMPAIGN  or  1759. 


had,  hoTVever.  been  purchased  by 


Wi 


and  when    bv  hi^  ''""''"'"'''  P'-"'""cial  strung,!,; 
upon  makL^:,r    '':;"'''  ""^  "^'^''^^  -"'-" 

Notwithstanding  'i.e^o  difij,.,,,.,.        [        ' 
ro  8.>alue  tie  ylr  iTsD  bt-         ''  "  T'  "^"'^^ 
of  Canada.    The  plan  of  th    ^         ."""P'"'"  '""1"^" 

powerful  a™ie:sl     M  ont:;XT  T'  "■^•'  "'^^« 
l-y  three  differ-nt  m„f!        J^  """''  P0«^''s«i"n9 

oo.ds  at  ne;;i:r;te''";t  tf  .'"h  ^'^""«- 

division,  Brigadier-.eneraVwol  '"^  "  "'"' 

'.ad  signalized  ^r.:7:'Zt:::Z^-  T'''  ''''' 
to  ascend  the  St.  Lawren      I'd   t  ?"'^'  "■"' 

Quebec,  escorted  by  a  strol  fl    /"  ^""''"'  "■''''"^' 
i--s  '.-oops.    The  ce't  a    n  it'r°'''^"'''«  -'" 
of  British   and    provincial    wa     /  ?'  """^"^^ 
against  Tieonderoga  and  ^^  Zn^'^lT'''', 
Amherst,  the  new  eommander-in  Llf '  ['  ''^,<^^''^™1 
■•"g  'n-mself  master  of  ther  r      '      °' "'*"' ""'^- 
on  ^ake  Cha^plain,  and^  .Ki:  oT^eVrr 
nver  to  the  St.  Lawrence   anrl    ,    "-^  7.  "■«  K'«l"-'i'eu 
^™  ajnnction  with  Zlkti:-:^^  'S:;-^' 
army,  to  be  composed  princinallv  „"      i     •  ,     "^ 
.•einforced  by  a  sLng  VyVl     .,     tT'  '""P'' 
to  be  commanded  by^Generai  /  ^    ^    "f '''™'  "^' 
'»d   this  division  Lt  aga-nst  N     "'      "  "''  '" 
tlie  reduction  of  that  LTT  *^''"''  """''  ""'-'^ 

tario,  and  proLed   Itn  Ve"  sT  W  "  '"'^  '^''- 
JVIontreal.    The  second  .  f  >!  ,    "''   '^'""' 


w 


104       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOTJNTAIN  HEEOES. 

can  only  be  described  sufficiently  to  show  their  in 
fluence  upon  the  military  operations  carried  on  by 
way  of  Lake  Champlain. 

Early  in  the  year  1759,  General  Amherst  commenced 
preparations  for  his  part  of  the  enterprise.      But  so 
many  difficulties  occurred  to  retard  the  operations  of 
his  army  in  that  unsettled  part  of  the  country,  that 
the  summer  was  already  far  advanced,  before  he  could 
pass  Lake  George  with  his  troops  and  artillery.    Aware 
of  the  danger  of  surprise,  and  not  unmindful  of  the 
disaster  that  the  Eritish  troops  had  sustained  the  year 
before,  this  able  and  judicious  officer  proceeded  with 
the  greatest  circumspection  :  leaving  nothing  to  chance, 
but  making  provision  for  every  difficulty  or  opposition 
that  could  be  foreseen.     At  length,  in  the  latter  end  of 
July,  he  arrived  in  the  vicinity  of  Ticonderoga,  with 
his  army  of  regulars  and  provincials  in  excellent  order, 
and  amply  supplied  with  artillery,  military  stores,  and 
provisions.     The  enemy  had  watched  all  his  motions, 
in  the  hope  of  finding  an  opportunity  to  gain  some 
advantage;  but  they  ventured  to  make  no  opposition 
to  his  troops,  either  when  crossing  the  lake,  or  effecting 
their  landing.     [laving  passed  the  lake  and  landed  his 
stores,  Amherst  immediately  began  to  make  propara- 
tions  to  reduce  the  fortress  by  a  regular  siege.    At  first 
the  enemy  appeared  determined  to  make  a  stubborn 
defense.     They  soon  found   that  they  had   an   able 
officer  to  oppose ;  that  Amherst  was  cautious,  resolute, 
well  prepared  for  undertaking  the  siege,  and  not  dis- 
posed to  subject  anything  to  unnecessary  risk  or  hazard. 
Despairing  of  making  a  successful  defense,  and  having 
orders  to  retreat  from  place  to  place  toward  the  centr> 


>>?  operations  at  Quebec,  rather  fi,n„  t 
diminishing  theFrench  or      "        '       "i"  "^^"^''  "^ 
of  war,  the,  set  about  disma,^  4  tTS" "'^ 
^nd,  having,   done  some  small   .'n  ^^i  tifjcations ; 

«^an.o„e.  them  an.  relT     Zrpi:;?-™:''^' 
their  heavy  arfilli.rxr    o  ,  "  "^  ^"^^  5  ieavinL' 

w-sbntLi:t:^:::r„;:X^^^^^^ 

cations;  and  to  nremr!  1  "^''''^'  the  fortifi- 

*>-n  e;peaiti::st  Sprt'^r^^^^'^ 

-nging  parties  were  constantly  empWed  ^  ?  '"' 
'I'e  neighborhood  of  that  place  and  it',  ?^ '° 
•notions  of  the  enemy      O^  f 'u  ""«  ^"  "'« 

intelligence  that  the  French  had  ',  '7'.'"''  '"'™^'" 
Point  and  were  ^oIT     \.   ,  "''» '''""'<'o"ed  Crown 

'>■«  works.  iXsVz :  tb^^r'^^'^^^'"^ 

take  possession  of  the  nhl  /  f^  "^  '"'"'S'"^  '» 
embarked  with  h       r^mt   I'a 'I?"  ""^  ^''^  «^  ^>-g-' 

l^aced  his  troops  Within  LtnettrSr"' 

£r:rtiirn?r^™-^"^^^^^^^^^^ 

-ndertook  threre!  o  retr.^'  't  ^'"''-^' 
enlarged  the  old  ones  and  b„  '    f"*^""""^^  ""d 

"■■•-d  that  the  ene^stnldreTat:!:::.  ^^'- 

=-^:orBS^^^.^-"-Crr:d 

retired  toihe     le  C t'Tr'    ^'^  """"*  '-"P' 
Champlain.  ^°'-'  "'  '^'  ■">'">  ™d  of  Lake 

Crown  Point  had   been  in   th^ 

French  for  thirty  years  and  .    ""^  P^f^"^^''^"  "^  the 

tion  had  afforde/S  f  """'  "'  ''^  --=- 

"""''Ji'^P''""""^  excursions  into 


'1 ' 

(I 


i 


li 


la  :! ; 


106        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOUNTAIN  IIEK0E8. 

the  English  colonies  ;  and  many  were  the  prisoners  who 
had  there  suffered  all  the  barbarities  that  savage  inge- 
nuity  could  devise.     Its  conquest  insured  safety  to  tlie 
frontiers  of  Kew  England  from  incursions  by  way  of 
Lake  Champlain  ;  but  another  channel,  through  which 
the  settlements  on  the  Connecticut  had  been  harassed, 
remained  still  open.     This  was  the  Indian  village  of  St. 
Francis,  situated    at   the  mouth  of  the  river  of  that 
name.     This  place  the  Indians  had  enriched  with  the 
pillage  of  the  New-England  settlements,  and  they  had 
garnished  it  with  the  scalps  of  many  hundreds  of  their 
victims.     Passing   up   the  St.  Francis   river  to  Lake 
Memphreinagog,  and  from  thence  to  the  Connecticut, 
these  Indians  had  been  enabled  to  make  sudden  and 
successful  incursions  into  the  colonies  of  Kew  Hamp- 
shire  and  Massachusetts,  and  to  return  to  their  homes 
in  safety.     Amherst  resolved  to  attempt  the  destruc- 
tion of  this  village.     Major  Rogers,  of  the  Kew-Harap- 
shire  rangers,  was  selected  for  this  arduous  duty.    Two 
hundred  of  the  most  hardy  and  resolute  men  in  the 
army  were  placed  under  his  command.     The  massacre 
at  Fort  William  Benry,  and   the  numberless   other 
atrocities  which  their  kindred  and  friends  had  suffered 
from  these  Indians,  were  fresh  in  the  minds  of  all  •  and 
they  exulted  in  the  expectation  that  the  time  for  retri- 
bution had  now  come.     The  orders  which  they  received 
from  Amherst  were  little  calculated  to  restrain  their 
ferocity.     '-  Remember,"  said  he,  "the  barbarities  that 
have  been  committea  by  the  enemy's  Indian  scoundrels 
on  every  occasion,  where  they  had  an  opportunity  of 
showing  their  infamous  cruelties  on  the  king's  subjects 
which  they  have  done  without  mercy.      Take  your 


DH«TK.0T,O«OK^K,™uKvar..OK. 


-  107 

eveiige,  but  foryret  not  that  fi..     i,    , 

eliildmn  of  aJI  ages  it  ist"!""  "'"™n,on  and 

children  a-e  killoS  o'r  lu^T  ;f --^  f »'  "o  -omen  or 

to  tl,e  Indian  village  was  by  way  of  w"^  ^■'■"''i'"'  '°"'« 

-'.ere  the  French  were  encampei^    u'T"  '"^'  "'''' 

apoetion  being  necessary  to  avoid  a  di!  """'  "'•™'"- 

enemy,  Rogers  was  seven  H  t>'8covery  of  the 

Conceah-ng^ds  bo  t   he  pu £  7  ''^T'  ''"  '^y- 
woods,  to  the  -Mage  of  S     P  "'^  """"«''  "'« 

Oetober,  after  having  forded  IT'I'     ^^  '^'  '^  "^ 
through  many  swamps  wH,!^  f',T""  '"'^'  P^^^'=<' 
-ched  the  S;  Frand   rive    Z        '' !:""'  ^°»-''^ 
".  although  it  was  five  fee7rdepti:rh  f  f  '°^'''"° 
rent.     October  4th  in  th»  .       •  *  ^'''™S  ™r- 

of  the  Indian  vil  I  tr"7'  ''"'  """^  ■"  ->'" 
with  two  other  offiTe.  ZTr  "i"''"™'  ^°"™' 
the  place.  U.y  ,2::^  ~  «o  reconnoitre 
wholly  unsuspicious  of  d.„  ^'"'"'"^   were 

frolic.  Their  reverywatr^.-'  'T ^''  ^"  '^  ^"""--S 
the  n^orning,  whet^™;  ^ t th"  T  °'"'"*  ^" 
became  still.  The  troop^s,tl  eld Vf  ?  ''"^'  '"'  «" 
refreshed  themselves,  and  we  rnow  f  d  "  ^'°^'''  ''"^ 
an  hour  before  sunri  e,  in  « rTedir  "'' '  ''"''  ^'^^ 
"Itanoous  attack  on  f  ree  1  /  ?""''  ""'''  ^  «™- 
completely  were  the  a  "age  ^   "I^  "'^,  ^"'^""^-    «» 

""at  th^  made  but  little"res2  ra/dl'^f  "'^''' 
nate  massacre  in  true  Ind;,.   <.  7    '         ""  mdiscrimi- 

cabins  were  forcirenSd!:  ""''•"' '""'^P'''^^-    T'- 
down,  or  shot  dead  in  thrie  '       ''''  '""^'^'^'^ 

In  the  obscure  li.ht,";!:  is:;  J;  ^r '"■"='• 

impossible  to  distinguish  »„«  or   e-      •      u       '' ''  "'"^ 

-    --6eor=e*.    Ac  the  sun  arose, 


i 


'.i' 


rl 


108        ETHAN  AI.LEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

it  revealed  to  their  view  a  scene  so  horrid  that  the  men 
might  have  relented,  but  fur  the  sight  of  the  scalps  of 
their  murdered  countrymen,  six  or  seven  hundred  of 
which,  suspended  on  poles,  were  waving  in  the  air  in 
all  parts  of  the  village.  This  steeled  their  hearts  to 
all  emotions  of  compassion,  and  they  continued  to 
dispatch  all  alike ;  and  about  seven  o'clock  the  work 
was  terminated  by  a  general  conflagration  of  the  vil- 
lage. Of  its  three  hundred  inhabitants,  two  hundred 
were  slain.  Twenty  women  and  children  were  taken 
prisoners,  but  most  of  them  were  soon  after  liberated. 
Five  English  captives  were  found  in  the  place,  and  were 
set  free.  Two  hundred  guineas  in  coin  were  found, 
and  a  silver  image  weighing  ten  pounds,  together 
with  a  large  quantity  of  clothing  and  some  provisions. 
Collecting  the  provisions,,  and  such  articles  as  they 
could  easily  transport,  they  set  fire  to  the  town,  and 
reduced  it  to  ashes.  At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  affair  was  completely  over ;  Eogers  then  assembled 
his  men,  and  found  that  one  was  killed,  and  six  slightly 
wounded.  Having  refreshed  his  men  for  one  hour, 
the  major  made  no  further  delay,  but  set  out  on  his 
return.  To  avoid  his  pursuers,  Kogers  now  took  a 
different  route,  and  marched  up  St.  Francis  river: 
meaning  to  have  his  men  collect,  and  rendezvous  at 
Coos  on  the  Connecticut.  On  their  march,  they  were 
harassed  by  some  of  the  enemy,  and  several  times  at- 
tacked in  the  rear.  In  these  encounters  they  lost  seven 
of  their  men.  At  length,  Kogers,  favored  by  the  dusk 
of  evening,  formed  an  ambuscade,  and  fell  upon  the 
enemy  where  they  least  expected  it ;  by  this  stroke, 
he  put  an  end  to  any  further  annoyance  from  them. 


OENEKAI,  WOLFE. 


109 


ro,   about  ten  days  the  detachment  kept  togetler  till 
tl.ej  had  passed  tl,e  eastern  side  of  Lake  Me.npl.r  ' 
""gog.      It  was   then   thought   best  to  scatter  into 
s.nuller  parties,  and   make  the  best  of  their  way  to 
so,ne  o,  the  English   settlements.      Their  suffeil 
now  began  to  be  severe,  not  only  from  the  excessi™ 
fafgues  they  had  undergone,  but  from  hunger.    Their 
provisions  were  expended,  and  they  were  yet  at  a  dis- 
tance trom  any  place  of  relief.    Some  were  lost  in  the 
wood,,       d  others  perished  at  Coos,  being  unable  to 
'.old  ont  any  further.     But  Rogers,  with  most  of  his 
men,  persevered  amidst  all  their  suiferings,  till  they 
arnved  at  Number  Four.     This  enterprisVhad  been 
dangerous  and   fatiguing  to  the  men  who  had  been 

cnemy.^   It  earned  alarm  and  consternation  into  the 
.eart  ot  Canada,  and  convinced  the  Indians  that  the 
Hand  ot  vengeance  was  now  come  upon  them 

During  the  operations  of  Amherst  at  Lake  Champlain 
General  Wolfe  prosecuted  his  daring  and  important  ax- 
ped,t,on  against  the  capital  of  Canada.  Strong  natu- 
rally,  and  still  stronger  by  art,  Quebec  had  obtained 
the  appellation  of  Gibraltar  of  America;  and  everv 
attempt  against  it  had  failed.    It  was  now  commanded 

ZaITT^'  '"  "^T"  "'  <''«'">g"-'-d  reputation  ; 
and  Its  capture  must  have  appeared  chimerical  to  »ny 
one  bnt  Pitt.  He  judged  rightly,  however,  that  the 
Doldest  and  most  dangerous  enterprises  are  often  the 
most  successful,  especially  when  committed  to  ardent 
minds,  glowing  with  enthusiasm  and  emulous  of  glory 
Such  a  mind  he  had  found  in  Wolfe,  whose  conduct 
attracted   his  attention.     In  June,  1759,  Wolfe 


Such 
liad 


i  i      1 


il'l 


il 


ic 


n^i 


110        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

landed  with  eight  thousand  troops  a  few  miles  below 
Quebec.      From  this   position,  he  could   take  a  near 
and    distinct   view  of  the  obstacles   to  be  overcome. 
These  were  so  great,  that  even  the  bold  and  sanguine 
Wolfe  perceived  more  to  fear  than  to  hope.      But  he 
resolved  to  do  his  best.     He  declared  he  would  rather 
die  than  to  fail  in  the  enterprise.     Various  attempts 
were  made  against  the  French,  but  besides  his  superior 
position,  Montcalm's  forces  were  much  more  numerous 
than  those  of  Wolfe,  and  the  latter  was  several  times 
repulsed  with  the  loss  of  many  men.     Nothing,  how- 
ever, could  shake  the  resolution  of  this  valiant  com^ 
mander,  or  induce  him  to  abandon  his  purpose. 

Baffled   and  harassed   in   all  his  previous  assaults, 
General  Wolfe  seems  to  have  determined  to  finish  the 
enterprise  by  a  single  bold  and  desperate  effort.     Tiiis 
was  to  surmount  the  heights  of  Abraham,  which  over- 
looked   Quebec,  and  were  then  deemed   inaccessible. 
To  mislead  the  French,  the  English  fleet  sailed  several 
miles  up  the  river,  making  occasional  demonstrations 
of  a  design  to  land  troops  ;  while  on  the  night  of  Sep- 
tember 12th,  a  strong  detachment  of  flat-bottomed  boats 
was  dispatched  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  a  point  a 
mile  above  the  city.    The  army  landed  about  an  hour 
before  daybreak,  clambered  up   a  precipitous  eteep, 
three  hundred  feet  high,  and  by  sunrise,  five  thousand 
troops  were  marshaled  on  the  heights  of  Abraham  — a 
position  which  commanded  the  city.     Montcalm  would 
not  at  first  believe  the  intelligence  of  this  movement ; 
but,  as  soon  as  he  was  aware  of  its  truth,  he  made  all 
prudent  hasto  to  decide  a  battle  which  it  was  no  longer 
possible  to  avoid.      About  nine  in  the  morninir,  the 


DEATH  OF  OEMCRAt  WOLFS:.  jjj 

"r   '"'^,  °''  ''"'  ^"■•"*    "dvancod    briskly  to  the 
ci--go,  and  the  aetfon  «oon  beoan,e  general      Molt 
cal.n  having  taken  post  on  the  left  of  tir^  f?    • 
and  Wolte  on  the  right  of  the  F„-        ,  "  '"■"•^' 

n-t  each  other  where  l"ebtle»'  '^'°  ^'"""''^' 
English  troops  reserve  the  Lrntn^'  T\  7'' 
advanced  within  fort,  yards  Z  lil  rd  '''^^ 
by  «  general   diseharge,  made  terrib  „  K  ' 

their  ranks.     The  fire  of  «,e  F        u  ""  """""S 

^^■'"Ptoms  of  pain,  wrapped  a  handTr  ,,^3  ^^ 
arm,  and  continued  to  enconragehis  men  %  . 

he  received  a  shot  in  the  grofn  b„T  1  T  '"'' 
wound,  he  was  pressing  on^  he  iLTr  "«  *''^ 
diers  with  fixed  bayonets,  when  a  1  Id  b  n"  ^'■""'■ 
his  breast.*    The  armv  w  ^  '  ^'^''^^ 

ine  army,  not  disconcerted  by  his  fall, 

•  On  receiving  Uf  mortal  wound  Wolfo  ,r..  .  , 

where,  careless  abet  hi„,elf,  he  elld  ■„  I'"^'"  '"""  '"'  «»'• 
n».t  anxion,  ,„„.i,„j,  c„ncer„i„;  tie  ^te  Td'  '"'"•  "" 
".',"  ie  said  ,0  an   offlcer  near  "hiM     't,„o  T      "'""f"'^ 

"«  ™e  dmp.     The  day  iaou„-.kee„  k"     F  '  '  ■*'"■" 

l.e  had  reclined  his  head  on  the  arm  J.  «  T  '""™""'  ''''""le's, 
by  the  c^  of ..  The,  ,y.  the/  ^^  ^f;"*?-.  '  7"  ~"  "™''^ 
'-.  "The  French,"  an^ered'hisatteTdan^.h::*""'""''^^'"* 
where...  ••  What  I  •.  feebly  exclaimed  Wolfe  .1  t^  '"'  "'  ""'■ 
<"  Colonel  Preston  and  .el[  hi™  to  marTh l^ebb.,      "  '""  '"'""'^  '  "' 

^  .he  bridge  over  the  St.  Charles  so  aftoT  toff  ZTv'™«''''='^ 
Now,  God  be  praised,  1  die  haD.,v ..    Tl,  ^^'"™'  "^'"""• 

•he  midst  of  sorrow,;.  clZ  •  ""^  "'  "="  "<"*.  »"<i  '» 

.^pire. .  death  11 J^  riic';,::;t':z'°'b"  *°-  - 

by  the  pen  of  the  historian,  or  celebrated  bv.h  T        "  '^'^«' 

Genera,  Wolfe  wa.  „„,y  .hi^y-th™    I'Valr;!'  °'  *°  f '"'''■ 
.uUtarv  talents,  which  with  the  adva^ta^e  of  ^a.  Z^^^^tZ      ' 


,|J: 


i  r 


■I  '  ^^  I 


W 


■ 

f-.^::; 

1 

• 

i 

112 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


continued  the  action  under  Monckton,  on  whom  the 
command    now  devolved,  but   who,  receiving   a  ball 
through  his  body,  soon  yielded  the  command  to  Gen- 
eral Townsherid.     Montcalm,  fighting  in  th.nt  of  his 
battalions,  received  a  mortal  wound  about  the  same 
tmie  ;  and  General  Senezergas,  the  second  in  command, 
also  fell.     The  Uritisli  grenadiers  pressed  on  with  their 
lionets.     The  center  of  the  French  army  was  broken, 
llic  bcottish  highlanders,  drawing  their  broadswords 
completed  the  confusion  of  the  enemy.     An  attempt 
was  made  by  them  to  rally,  but  after  a  brief  and  fierce 
conflict,  they  retired,  leaving  the  British  undisputed 
masters  of  the  field.     The  loss  of  the  French  was  much 
greater  than  that  of  the  English.      Although  Quebec 
was   strongly  defended    by  its   fortifications.  General 
Townshend   had   scarcely  prepared  to  get   his  heavy 
artillery  upon  the  heights  for  a  siege,  when  the  inhab- 
itants capitulated  on  condition  that,  during  the  war, 
they  might  enjoy  their  civil  and  religious  rights.     A 
garrison  of  five  thousand  English  troops  was  placed 
m  the  city,  and  the  fleet  sailed  out  of  the  St.  Lawrence. 
The  fall  of  Quebec  did  not  produce  the  immediate 
submission  of  Canada.    The  main  body  of  the  French 

action  to  moderate  his  ardor,  expand  his  faculties,  and  give  to  his  intui 
t.ve  perception  and  scientific  knowledge  the  correctness  of  judgn.ent 
perfected  by  experience,  would  have  placed  hi.n  on  a  level  with  the 
most  celebrated  generals  of  any  age  or  nation.  Montcalm  was  every 
way  woilhy  to  be  a  competitor  o.  Wolfe.  He  had  the  truest  military 
gernus  of  any  officer  whom  the  French  had  ever  employed  in  America 
After  he  had  received  his  mortal  wourd,  he  was  carried  into  the  city 
and  when  informed  that  it  was  mortal,  his  reply  was,  "  I  am  glad  of  it  -' 
On  being  told  that  he  could  survive  but  a  few  hour.,  "  So  much  the  bet- 
ter,   he  rephed.  "  I  shall  not  then  live  to  see  the  surrender  of  Quebea" 


EXPEDITION  AOAIN.T  UO^THKAL.  \^^ 

arm  J  jctired  to  JVIoiitreal      Ti 

recovery  „f  Quebec    ".  '    "^'"'  P^P^^t.ons  for  tie 
tl,«  I.',       I     ^      '-"■    -^  'l")  month  of  Anril    iTcn 
tl.e  i'rcneh  anny  mailed  down  tl,,,  St    T  '  ' 

eflbctod  a  landing  near  0^,7       r.       ^"""''"""O'  »»>i 
«■'-  tl^e  care  o°'  ^    nSS'thfr,''  ,''"™^' '" 
i-ad    been   intrusted,  had   taken  t*-         "°"'^'''»' 
P-erveit;  bnt  his   r  ops    ad  suff  '''',  '"'"""""  *" 
tlie  extreme  severity  of  m        •  !     ''^  '"  ""'^''  *™'» 

^^-,.o.and,th:ia:^n:r;:fi:^'^^''°^ 

tJiere   were   8carp..l,r   fi  ,  ^^^   garrison, 

"-  French  bm  1  !' r^'""'" '""''"'"'"^^'"^' 
™  obliged  to  retrolr-  ,  7""  """'""''''  ^"™7 
French  ^ould  p^J"'"  ''"  ^''^-    B»'  betbre  th« 

guns  to  bear  u^  h  It  f:""'  ""'  ""'"^  '^^^ 
■nost  opportuneirar  ved  rr  V  """''''  ^<"" 
;ateiy  retreated  i  Montl'ii  ^Tt  "^^"f 
^audreuil,  governor  rV  r      ^     7  ^^irquis  de 

quarters,  'J,   TZl'aHtS  h^l  ''  '-'■ 
For  this  purpose  he  called   .  ,   ,       '""   ''"'"^• 

force  of  hfe  colony  """"''  ^"^   '^«  ^^ole      ' 

While  Vaudreuil  was  fln,«  , 

General  A.herst  ^^JZiZ'ZlT  r'''^''''''' 
"res  to  bring  all  the  Rn'f  executing  meas- 

-  ^n   eonefrt  aglrEreT  Hfhar"'-'  '" 
structions   to   General    Ar,  ^"^^   ^^°*  ^n- 


I  tl* 


,ti 


Hi''. 


I 


114       KTHAN  AIJ.EN  AND  OUEEN-MOUNTAIN  HKKOK8. 

garrison  of  Quebec.     Ho  appointed  Colonel  Ifaviland 
to   command   a   body  of  troops,  wiiich  were  to   pro 
ceed   from   Crown   Point,  tlirougli   Lake  Champlain 
to  take  possession  of  tlio  Isle  Aux  Noix;  and  from 
tlienco  they  were  to  advance   by  the  shortest  practi 
cable  route,  to  the  banks   of  the  river  St.  Lawrence. 
For  himself,  he  proposed  to  go  with  the  main  body 
of  liis   army  by   the  way  of  the   Moliawk   to   Lake 
Ontario;   to  embark  his  troops  at  Oswego,  sail  over 
the   lake,  and   down   the  river   St.  Lawrence,  to   the 
Island   of  Montreal.     By  this   plan,  lie   proposed   to 
bring  all  his  trooi)s  against  that  place,  and  to  inclose 
and  surround  the  enemy  on  that  island.     Almost  on 
the   same  day,  the  armies   from   Quebec,  from   Lake 
Ontario,   and    from    Lake   Champlain,   were   concen- 
trated  before  Aiontreal,  and  Vaudreuil  was  speedily 
compelled  (September  8,  1760)  to  capitulate.    In  1763, 
peace  was  ratified  between  England  and  France,  by 
wliich  all  the  possessions  of  the  French  in   Canada 
were  ceded  to  the  English. 

Thus  terminated  a  war,  which  originated  in  an  at- 
temjit  on  the  part  of  the  French  to  surround  the 
English  colonists,  and  chain  them  to  a  narrow  strip 
of  country  along  the  coast  of  tlie  Atlantic ;  and  ended 
with  their  giving  up  the  whole  of  what  was  then 
their  only  valuable  territory  in  North  America.  The 
immediate  advantage  the  colonies  derived  from  the 
successful  issue  of  the  contest  was  great  and  appa- 
rent. Although,  for  a  short  period  after  the  conquest 
of  Canada  had  been  effected,  they  were  subject  to 
attacks  from  the  Indian  tribes  attached  to  the  French, 
they  were  soon  enabled   to  visit  their  cruelties  with 


laviland 
to  pro 
implain 
:id  from 
t  practi 
iwrence. 
in  bodv 
:o  Lake 
ail  over 
,  to  the 
osed  to 
>  inclose 
nost  on 
n  Lake 
concen- 
ipeedily 
:n  1763, 
nee,  by 
Canada 


<^'08K  OF  TIIK  FRENCH  WAR. 

severe   retribution    ai.fl    f.. 

and  prepared   the  wav  for  Z  "  ""I""-""". 

.uent  of  l,er  vassd  all         I""'!  "'"*    "'"  '•'^'oW'^'- 
i""'-ed  to  the  habit8  aud  ,       \.         "'''""'^'^  ^^'^^"lo 
-^i  skilled  in  £  ar r,?"'^'^^^  ^^"  ^  -'^'^-T  ^i^'^S 
t'-  desire  of  revenl  f.    ,,     T'"  ^''^'^  ^   while 
France  did  not  1   J^  ^ "1        "  ^'  '^^^^^^"'  ^^'-'^^ 
a  most  effieient  frien     an"  "'  T  '"^"'^'^^  ^'^^  ^'-- 
alous  exhibition  of  a' despot  e^^  ''"'  '"'  ''''  ^""'»" 
^"•^  power  in  the  cause  onl^^^^^^^^^^      ^^-^^  all 

^^t>erty  and  independence. 


an  at- 
nd  the 
w  strip 
I  ended 
IS  then 
I.  The 
)m   the 

appa- 
)nquest 
ject  to 
^'rench, 
58  with 


I' I 

r, 

I' 


'h 


'1 8-' 


fl 


pip. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE    NEW-HAMPSHIRE    0RANT5 

"Look  now  abroad  —aiiotlic!'  rare  has  lilled 

These  populoiw  bonlers  — wide  the  wood  recedei 
And  towns  Hhoot  up,  and  fertile  plains  are  tilled; 

Tho  'and  is  full  (»f  liarve.stH  and  i^reen  'neuds ; 
Streanis,  mitnlnMlcsH,  that  many  a  fountain  feedu, 

Shine  disenjliowertd,  and  i,'ive  to  snii  and  breeze 
Tlieir  virgin  wator.H ;  the  full  ref,'ion  leads 

Now  eolonifs  forth,  that  toward  the  western  seal 
Spread,  like  a  rapid  flame  among  the  autumnal  lea  na" 

Rkyant. 

Up   to   the  close   of  the   French  war  in    17G0,  the 
territory  now  composing  tlie   state  of  Yennont,  was 
an    uncultivated   wilderness.     The   only   considerable 
settlement   witliin   its   limits   was   at   Fort   Bummer, 
now  Brattleborough.     This  fort  had  been  built  under 
the  authority  of  Massachusetts,  in  1724,  and  gave  pro- 
tection  to  a  few  families   in   its   immediate  vicinity. 
The  region   between   Lake  Champlain   and   the  Con- 
necticut river  is  not  known  to  have  been  the  perma. 
nent  habitation  of  the  Indian  tribes,  although  it  was 
often  traversed  by  them  in  their  hunting  excursions, 
and   in  their  warlike  expeditions  against  each  other. 
The  constant  warfare  which  was  maintained  between 
tlie  Indians  on   the  St.  Lawrence,  and   those  on   tho 
Mohawk,   as   well  as   the  subsequent   wars   between 
the  French   and   English   colonies,   were   carried   on 
chiefly  through  Lake  Champlain  and  its  vicinity,  ren- 
dering tlie  settlement,  by  Indians  or  whites,  extremely 


RKflnr.TR  OF  I'RACR. 


117 


hazardous.     To  o»-Pr..nf  .i 

«ivo  ,.„„...,„„     ''!;„;?  ^"■"-''  -'--t,  and  to 

"ft--»-«nJ,  Fc„,  llo,,,,.,    ;;   '"  ■■'■  f »'"  "V-";'  years 
«-l"-<'l.  is  n„w  ,.„•„,.,    '"/-'-"'^'"•^'•tte,  tl,o  site  of 

vc.ar8  ,,revio„8  to  1759  th.  ^  >  ,  ^  "  ''""^  <"' 
»ion  of  the  forts  at  1^:   ^  '"'  '""•  '"^^''^  P"^"^' 

-'i  their  viein  ;  h/r '?""■*  ""'  ^""""  ^'"■•'«. 
and  destructive  battll  K  !  '''"'  "''  '"""y  ^ood^ 
allies  on  the  one"     ,:?:,"  "r ''"'' ''-'^  Indian 

the  otl,er.     I„    LL  :  ;  f„  ""^  ^"^"•^''  -"""'^'^  on 
tl'e  incursions  of  t  ,e  I '1        '"T"'' "'  ^'^l'  "«  '" 

<"•  AW  i^iandtrs' sr'rr ''^^'  --^ 

•noet  valuable  inhabitants  had  "'"^  °*"  ''^ 

";%•    In  their  retaliatrfe,,edr        '"'°™P- 
ada,  the  English  colonic,,  i    "'"'^"'""^  against  Can- 

P-tion  of  Vermont  i;  1  'f  '"''"'""'^  ">«  Skater 
"eanties  and  ferti^'^'i'^  ::!- ,^'"'™''''  -">  ''= 
-gion  as  an  attractive  por  L  oTt  '         "«"''^''  ""'^ 
-"lie,  in  the  intervals  otac'  tt'7TT""' ''"'^ 
«-e  gradually  spreading    LTr^if  "'''''  ^"'""'^'^ 
"n  the   Connecticut,  Fre^.e     adv    r        '  ""''"'"'^'•'^ 

'7,-'  "0-  along'  therdet:;r:  cLrT'"^ 

ll'c  war  having  terminated  i„  hT  ^'"""'''''^'"• 
Canada,  the  frontiers  of  New  yJIV"'"'""''  "'' 
and  New  Hampshire  were  no  ,n'  ^"^^"^'"'^''''^ 
inroads  of  the  French T.^  ^"'  '•'''°^<'''  '»  "=« 
tions  of  the  Indinns  C»  "^•■*°*''  '*"''  '^^P-'^da- 
^ottled  par's  of  the  connf    '"T"  '''''  """  "'«  "n- 

and  Je  aoode^Trir  V/I/r  ''"^^""' 

o-   -J^Qj  ot  larmera,  who 


r'  I 


r  ' 


'•¥¥ 


I*    V: 


n 


I'.;;! 


I 


118        KTIIAX  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

might  wish  to  advance  their  fortunes  by  establishing 
settlements   along  the  frontiers.     No  portion   of  the 
country  appeared   more   inviting  than   that   situated 
between   Lake  Champlain  and   the  Connecticut,  and 
it  was  eagerly  explored  by  adventurers  and  specula- 
tors.    The   soil  was,  in   many   places,  of  uncommon 
fertility,  favorable  to  the  production  of  grain,  and  in 
all,  to  grazing  and  the  raising  of  cattle.     It  was  plenti- 
fully watered   by   numerous   streams,  and    abounded 
with  excellent  timber.     In  such  a  soil  and  situation, 
it  was  thought  by  the  hardy  pioneers,  the  labor  and 
hardships  of  a  few  years  could  scarcely  fail  to  secure 
for  them  valuable  farms,  with  the  ease  and  indepen- 
dence which  are  the  proper  rewards  of  industry  and 
frugality.     Encouraged  by  such  prospects,  many  peo- 
ple began  to  settle,  or  to  speculate  in  those  lands.     As 
early  as  1696,  indeed.  Governor  Fletcher,  of  the  prov 
ince  of  New  Ye-k,  bestowed   a  considerable  portion 
of  the  present  state  of  Vermont  upon  Godfrey  Del- 
lius,  one  of  his  favorites,  who  was  the  minister  of  the 
Dutch   church   in  Albany.     Dellius  was   one   of  the 
commissioners  for  Indian  affairs,  and  had  previously 
obtained  from  the  Mohawk  Indians,  fraudulently,  as 
they  said,  a   deed   of  their  title  to  the   same  lands. 
This   singular   and   very   liberal   donation,   conveved 
to  Dellius  eight  hundred   and  forty  square  miles  of 
territory.     The  avarice  of  the  minister,  and  the  gen- 
erosity of  the  governor,  are  equally  entitled  to  a  smile, 
if  it  is  permissible  to  smile  at  any  transaction  batween 
so  venerable   a   prelate   as  "our  Loving  Subject  the 
Reverend  Godfrcdius  Dellius,  Minister  of  the  G(     'el 
att  our  city  of  Albany,"  and  so  august  a  magistiuLe 


THE  DELLIUS  GRANT.  ^^^ 

as  "his  Excellency,  the  Honorable  Beniamfn  ffl  f  i. 

his  Majesty's  Governor  onri  n  """^^"''^  ffletcher, 

ti^e  Province   of  C  Yoi'^r;^  '^  ^'^^^  ^^ 

pending  thereon  in  Amer^a  »    1^^      '"^^^^^^^  ^- 

made  upon   the  follnw  ..         conveyance  was 

pon   tne  loIIoM'ing   condition:   "lie   Vioi.i- 
Eenderino"  nnrl    Po   •        .1  ^    J-ieiclinor 

Day  of  the  Annunej;  of  o'XeT;"  -'^M  "' 
at  our  city  of  New  YnA.  fi,     a  ^^"'  ^'"":'' 

Raccoon  Ski„„  ;„,,•.?  V  ^"°"''"  ^^"'^  "^  »"« 
.Services  1^7 Z^i:  Z'  T  "'  ="'  ""^  «»'^ 
the  said  Tract  of  /„    .'""'.^."'"'"'d^  whatsoever  for 

The  Earl  of  b1      V       '''''"''  """  P-"---" 
B  Jian  ot   iJellamonte,  who  succeprf,-rl    m  .  i. 

jnatly  regarding  these  and  other  1!"^'!  .''''"■' 
culated  to  impede  the  settlement  oJ^!  ^  "'  '"'■ 

ommended  the  annulment  of  thl  '""""■^'  '''^■ 

by  the  legislature      Th  ^''''"''  <"•  P^tente 

.h'eassem&t— i?glT,:S'"""'^  f^  ^'^ 
authority,  also  passed  a  res^ron  I       ''  """ 

from   the  ministry  for  "did  "''^     -    ^"^  ^"'"" 
iawk]  Indians  and  1   7    .  ^      '  ^^l"""'  TMo- 

of  said  .rj:::rvs:^zttn''T'''"^- 

regarding  his  title  as  still  valM  t.w      J  ?'^'  ''"^' 
to  the  Eev.  John  Ivdin     }         '''"'^'"'^  '"^  daim 
'•-V  at  Albany,  w^^"!  IZtr  w"   ^  "'"■ 
at^mpted  the  enforcement  of  the  l^^p,!™ 
until   the  conquest  of  Canada  in   1760   Zv]! 
govcrno      ef  that  province  made  "ants     /""f 
all  the  lands  contiguous    t.  Lak-P  rT      ,         "'^ 
various  settlements  were  b  ,un     if  I"'"  ""'  """ 
abandoned  during  the  last  pCnch  wL     ''  ^'''  "" 

In  the  charte.  granted  by  the  sovereigns  of  England 


(li 


I'll 


f- 


Ki 


I  ■      I 


120        ETHAN  AIXEN  AND  OKEEN-MOUNTAIN  HKKOEB. 

to  the  earlv  colonists  on  the  con+'nent,  so  little  was 
known  of  the  geography  of  the  country,  and  so  trifling 
was   the   value  of  the  grants   considered,  that   their 
definition  of  boundaries  was  extremely  vague,  as  they 
well  might  be,  the  crown  having  no  precise  notions  of 
the  extent  or  situation  of  the  territories  it  was  ceding 
to  its  favorites.     Accordingly,  as  the  importance  of  the 
colonies  increased,  and  the  people  becam^e  interested 
in  knowing  the  exact  limits  of  their  possessions,  it  was 
found  that  there  were,  in  several  instances,  conflicting 
claims  to  the   same   tract  of  country.     Hence   arose 
many  imbittered  controversies   between  the  colonies, 
some  of  which  were  not  finally  settled  until  long  after 
the  Eevolution.     The  territory  comprising  the  state  of 
New  York  is  an  example  of  the  difliculty  attendant 
upon  these  questions.     By  the  terms  of  the  charters  to 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  the  possessions  of  each 
were  to  extend  .westward  to  the  South  sea  or  Pacific 
ocean.    Although  the  Dutch  had  for  several  years  been 
in  possession  of  the  Hudson  river,  it  does  not  seem  to 
have  been  fully  known  that  the  above  grants  conflicted 
with  their  interests,  although  they  contained  the  follow- 
ing condition  :  "  Provided  always,  that  the  said  lands, 
islands,  or  any  of  the  premises  by  the  said  letters  patent 
intended  or  meant  to  be  granted,  were  not  then  actually 
possessed  or  inhabited  by  any  other  Christian  power 
or  State."     After  the  conquest  of  "New  Netherlands  " 
as  the  Dutch  possessions  were  called,  Charle^H.  granted 
them  to  his  brother,  the  Duke  of  York.     The  terms  of 
this  charter,  (the  controversy  respecting  which  resulted 
in  the' admission  of  Vermont  as  a  separate  state  of  the 
UnioD)  will  interest  the  reader. 


■^.  ,         /, 


™B;  CHWtM  of  ^„  VOBK. 


•'-'.lOMiing  to  New  LotlCd   in'T  "*'  >'^'-  Croix'   e" 

orieJandK.  conm, only  c'.Tiod  I,    t'"^  ""   "">'  island 

towards  tl,e  west  of  Ci,  e  fsi    '"'/'  """■■''«.  and  briZ 
pnsetts,  abutting  ',;"'.,f"'^;  "."^  /'-e  Narrow  in  ,"f 

w«  i-,vers  t!,ere,  callid    r to    n'T.v  h'"''  ''''''''"  ^ 
c*  Co  meet,  cut  and  iJud.on's  K'"  ''•'  f'e  several  names 

1.0  ^a,d  river  called  /lu  C ',  "IT'  ?»'f  l^"'- also  «"  | 
Mf  w,-,<  „V„  ,f  Co,,>ZTlf'  ■  ""■  "'"  '«"-"'•«  from 
D^,war.  Bay:  ^lZ^"j^''^*<'  the  caH  MZ} 
ealltMj  or  knowii  liv  <-i,J^     '         *'^*^'^^  several  islnnr?. 

"",&(■.    Dated  tl,e  twent;  nin      t    '  '°ff''"'<"-  VitI, 

a."'"'  .ear  o.  ^is^i^^^:::^  z 

of  the  nudso^  It  L:;::r;;^77  "lies  east 
granted  by  the  Connectieut  ™H  "  '"""    >>««" 

-ade,  thus  far  westCd    1;         '"■' '"'  '•"'"^"'™" 

-e  arrangement  riitL^rrr--'''^ 
—  Massae.use.sa„dKew^vi'"tt:Z 


■  i ' 

mm 

122 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEKOES. 


of  New  Hampshire,  thinking  it  probable  that  the  juris- 
diction of  his  government,  the  charter  being  somewhat 
ambiguous,  was  designed  to  extend  as  far  westward  as 
that  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  took  piompt 
measures,  as  soon  as  the  importance  of  the  territory 
seemed  to  justify  the  step,  to  establish  this  boundary 
During  the  peace  which  preceded  the  last  French  war 
Benning  Wentworth,  then  governor  of  New  Hampshire, 
wrote  to  Governor  George  Clinton,  of  New  York,  in 
regard  to  the  subject.    He  said,  "I  have  it  in  command 
from  his  Majesty,  to  make  grants  of  the  unimproved 
lands  within  my  government,  to  such  of  the  inhabitants 
and  others  as  shall  apply  for  grants  of  the  same,  as  will 
oblige  themselves  to  settle  and  improve,  agreeable  to 
his  Majesty's  instructions.     The  'var,  hitherto,  has  pre- 
vented me  from  making  so  great  a  progress  as  I  hoped 
for  on  my  first  appointment ;  but  as  there  is  a  p.  ospect 
of  a  lasting   peace  with   the  Indians,  in  which  your 
Excellency  has   had  a  great  share,  people   are  daily 
applying  for  grants  of  land   in   all   quarters  of  this 
government,  and  particularly  some  for  townships  to  be 
laid  out  in  the  western  part  thereof,  which  will  fall  in 
the  neighborhood  of  your  government.    I  think  it  my 
duty  to  apprise  you  thereof,  and  to  transmit  to  vour 
Excellency  the  description  of  New  Hampshire,  as  the 
king  has  determined  it  in  the  words  of  my  commission, 
which,  after  you  have  considered,  I  shall  be  glad  if  you 
will  be  pleased  to  give  me  your  sentiments  in  what 
manner  it  will  affect  the  grants  made  by  you  or  preced- 
ing governors  ;  it  being  my  intention  to  avoid,  as  much 
as  I  can,  consistent   with  his   Majesty's   instructions, 
interfering  with  your  government."     Governor  Clinton 


123 


placed  this  letter  beforp  the.  « 
vised  his  Excellene;      a  ;:::"'  ■"  '"^^  ""-""",  ad 
'"  ""swer  to  his  sa  d  letter    h  ^T""'  ^''"'"•"^"' 
VorkJ  is  bounded  ellZ'hXl      ?'""'"=^  ^^^^^ 
letters-patent  from  KinTch!  1      T'"""* '""' '  «=« 
york,  expressly  grant  nf  'all T"', "'  '"  ">«  ^"''«  "^ 
'■•''e  of  the  CoL'eet;:^,^^^,  thT*  f  "1  ""^  ^^^ 
aware   bay.=  "      Th--«   .      i  ^^^^  ^^^^  «^"  Del- 

t— te^toG„?e;or^::-;[''^ee„nnci.„as 

^e;r:ss;r:2r'^^~-- 

William  Williams  and  shty  one  l""""'  ""'  '^''^  "> 
ship,  six  miles  square,  £"„' ,7 '^""""""'^"• 
•>ame,was  called  Ben „n. ton     r^  ""  '"  ^''  '^^ 

four  miles  east  of  the  W,!,         •         "'  '"""''"^  '"^'y- 

-''"eMassaehuL::^^^^^''"^""^'^ 
tJon  to  Clinton  of  thi.  J^^^tworth  gave  informa- 

-  further  cession    onfj;  ^  P™"'-''  '"  """^e 

question  of  j-isdiction  sh  Id  be'd''^^""""  "'« 
governors  consented   M  1,  ^''"''"'-     ^^o* 

matter  to  the  feiralra:::;;VT""'^"'""^  "^  '^« 
^tandin,  this,  wf;t  J.t rdtit  llT •  "^r"'- 
five  years,  continued  to  Li,      ^  '"'"^  '^"  »>• 

west  side  of  the  Con„e  t  !  """"''  "'  ''""'«  »»  ">« 
fo...-teen  townsh^s  in  it;  '  ThT"""^'  '"  ""'  "> 
eommenced  between  the  English  and  /?;  ,'"?'' ""' 
antl  ..ntil  the  final  eonouert  ,f  P  ^f"^'"  «°'<">ie8, 
applications  were  made  fori  a  "'"'  "°  ''"'•"'er 
"™it«-    D,,  ,.,„  thecontt  '"'""  '^'  ^'^P^^ed 

England  troopt  lu  a  ro    7"":'  '''  ^'''  ""^  ^e- 
Connecticut,  I  Crow     Pott^fTr^;"- °" '"« 
-^'•^e  Green  Mountains  theS: 


sumi 


hi: 


f'r 


Ill' 


;'! .   I'll 


124       KTIUN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HER0K3. 

admiringly  upon   the  smiling  and    luxuriant   valleys 
beneath  them,  and  many  a  hardy  volunteer  selected 
the  place  where,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  he  should 
wish  to  establish  a  home.     Upon  the  conquest  of  Can- 
ada, these  persons  applied  foi  grants  to  the  governor 
of  T^ew   Hampshire,   within   whose  jurisdiction   the 
lands  were  generally  supposed  to  be.     By  the  advice 
of  his  council,  Wentworth  directed  a  survey   to   be 
made  of  Connecticut  river  for  sixty  miles ;  and  three 
lines  of  townships  to  be  laid  out,  on  each  side.     The 
applications   for   lands   increased,    and   new   surveys 
were  made.     So  rapid  was  the  progress,  that  during 
the  year  1761,  not   less  than  sixty  townships,  of  six 
miles  square,  were  granted  on  the  west  of  Connecticut 
river.      The  whole  number  of  grants,  in  one  or  two 
years  more,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight ; 
and  their  extent  was  from  Connecticut  river,  to  what 
was  considered  twenty  miles  east  of  Hudson  river,  so 
far  as  that  extended  to  the  northward  ;  and  after  that, 
as  far  west  as  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Champlain! 
The  cultivation  of  the  country,  and  the  number  of  the 
settlers,  increased  with  surprising  rapidity;  and  Mr. 
Wentworth  had  an  opportunity  to  accumulate  a  large 
fortune,  by  the  fees  and  donations  which  attended  the 
business,   and    by   a   reserve  of  five   hundred   acres, 
which  he  made  in  every  township,  for  himself. 

To  check  the  proceedings  of  :New  Hampshire,  and 
to  intimidate  the  settlers,  Mr.  Colden,  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor  of  New  York,  issued  a  proclamation,  setting 
forth  the  charter  to  the  Duke  of  York,  asserting  its 
validity,  claiming  that  the  jurisdiction  of  New  York 
extended    eastward    to   the    Connecticut    river,    and 


1 1 


COPNTKE-PHOCLAMA-riONS.  jgg 

ccmmandirig  the  sl.eriff  of  the  countv  nf  a  ,v 

maJu!  a   return   r,f  .,11  ^   of  Albany  to 

"'"   <*'   "11  porsoiie  who    iirifl..-  „  i         „ 

grnnts   from   Governor   Wentwort       I     ,       ,       ^  ''^ 

«--«n   of  any  Jands  wl     t  tS'  P        ""''"  J"^' 

connteraet   the  inliuenee  of     I         C""°««'<'"t-    To 

We,ft«-„rth  also  ,„,l  M,    .  '  P^ef-'mation,  Mr. 

tor  to  the  dX  o'Sf  r'\P™"---g  the  char- 

^ew  i..M.-reii;tr :  tstar  t  '"^' 

ciiusetts  and    Conneofir-nf .       ' '"^  "^^'^''^'^^''^  as  JVIassa- 

crown,  even  ehonM  fi      •  Wnirmed  by  the 

New  York     ie  t   T  """       ""  ""  "'""""'■'■"'  "^ 
ti„,idated    bnfto  f  '  >  ""'^  '^'''"'''^'^  ""'  '»  ^^e  -- 

required    to  e.erri.„  ,  "'"'  ''*<=«'-8  were 

«.-a'„ts  Lad  been  :Le''";:d":"  "-^  "■^^'"''^''   ^ 

of  the  peace     Afte,        K  P"""''  ^''  '^'""'«=" 

peace.    After  such   assurances   from    o  , 

governor,  they  entertained  no  suso  c In  7 ,     ""^"^ 
test  between  two  „„     •  '"spicion   that  a  con- 

ti.einwisXtL:  :r:::;x^.'''f  '^'-^  »^ 

-•■o  had  iairly  purchased        itn^^f!  "'  ''"" 
appointed  by  tlie  king.  governor 

Hitherto,  the  claim^of  New  yorV  f    .i, 

-  crown  t;^  a'cirir  nr  :r f '- 

supported  by  a  petition,  pnrportinl  t„  h  \  '  ,  """" 
-»ber  of  the  settlers  on'th  "Sj^^^J"-  "  ■"«" 
representing  that  it  would  be  for  th  "™  ^™"''' 

be  annexed  to  the  colony  of  kIw  ,  J  "'T''''  '" 
tlrnt  the  western  bank  of  r„  "".^"'^^  ""^  P'-aying 
est'iblM    1  Connecticut  river  min-ht  . 

ebWDJlslied   as   the  enofu™    1,  ,  '"'gMt    ue 

the  eastern  boundary  of  that  province. 


I    ■  M' 


>m 


I  i, 


5  1 


III 


; . 


I  >  I 


t '  -  i 


f  ■  • 


ir 


"S- 


I 

i 
! 

i 

i 

: 

I  ■ 

126       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OREEN-MOUNTAIA  HEItOES. 

The  ai)plication  from  New  York  was  referred  to  the 
board  of  trade,  and  upon  tlieir  reconimendation,  sec- 
onded by  a  report  of  a  committee  of  the  privj-council, 
an  order  was  made  by  the  king,  (July  20,  1764,)  de- 
claring "the  western  banks  of  Connecticut  river,  from 
where  it  enters  the  province  of  Massachusetts  ^ay, 
as  far  north  as  the  forty-fifth  degree  of  latitude,  to  he 
the  boundary-line  between  the  two  provinces  of  New 
York  and  New  Hampshire." 

This  decree,  like  many  other  judicial  determinations, 
while  it  closed  one  controversy,  opened  another.    The 
jurisdiction  of  the  governor  of  New  Hampshire,  and 
his  authority  to  grant  lands,  were  circumscribed   on 
the  west   by  Connecticut  river;   but  the  grantees  of 
the  soil  found  themselves  involved  in  a  dispute  with 
the  government  of  New  York.     From  the  words  "  to 
he^'  in  the  royal  declaration,  adverse  conclusions  were 
drawn.    The  government  assumed  that  they  referred 
to  tine  past,  and  construed  them  into  a  declaration 
that  the  Connecticut  always  had  formed   the  eastern 
boundary  of  New  York;   consequently,  that   all   the 
grants  made  by  Mr.Wentworth  were  illegal,  and  that 
the  lands  might  be  granted  again.    The  grantees  un- 
derstood the  words  as  simply  designed  to  affect  the 
future,  and  not  to  annul  the  validity  of  past  transac- 
tions.    They  regarded  it  as  merely  extending  the  ju- 
risdiction of  New  York,  from  that  period,  over  their 
territory.     But  they  had  no  apprehension  that  it  could 
in   any  way  affect  the  title  to   their  lands.     Having 
purchased   and   paid   for  those  lands,   under  grar-^ 
from   the  crown,  they  did   not  understand   by  wha. 
perversion  of  justice  they  could  be  com])elled,  by  tho 


s=me  authority,  to  repurchase  or  abandon  them     T„ 
the  change  of  jurisdiction  they  were  willi, !?'     I 
mit,  although,  at  f    t   ,|,„  ^  to  sub- 

shire  remoLk. ti  a  Li  f:"™"  "^  ^T^'  """'1'- 
H.th  induced  to  ah::r  t  e  ^l^^r  ^ 
proclamation  "reeommendin.  to  the  1  "    " 

settlers   due  obedience  to  tl^  a':,!    it  'rt:: 
the  coJoiJv  of  Kew  York"     Tn   fi  •      .  ^ 

.  the  government  of  S  yi"  ^  -';  ^^  »";■'«. 
Its  jurisdiction  over  the  Kpw  TT  ^^  ''^  *^  ^^^^^end 
vi^in,  the  territor,  ilTo  t"i:i:  ^/r::;,:';- 
ing  courts  of  justice  in  each  "    Tl.n     ..i  ^stabiKsh- 

J         c  lii  uacn.      iiiQ  settlors  wprp  nnJir./i 
on  to  surrender  their  ch'irfor=    n    i  ^ 

iands  under  grants  fromt:viTr:;tr' 
peremptorily  refused  to  comply  „,»,   ,         ,        "'"" 

.rants  of  their  lands  were  '£:    Vi^t'otht^ 
m  whose  names  actions  of  eiectmenf  L  '' 

and  judgments  obtained  I   the     on  t!  '"r.T"'' 
The  attempts  to  execute  'these     die  L      v  dt"""  " 
s-ing  the  settlers,  met  with  a'  deCLX  71 
stmate  resistance.    For  the  purpose  of  rendering  this 
resistance  more   effectual,   various  assoeiatio    "Je  e 
formed  ;  and  at  length,  a  convention  of  representat  v  s 
from  the  several  towns  on  the  west  side  of  the  m     n 
t-ns  was  called.     This  convention,  after  n  ^ur      e" 
.era  , on  appointed  Samuel  Eobinson,  of  Benn     .  '„, 
an  agent,  to  represent  to  the  court  of  Great  Bdt-.in 
1.0  grievances  of  the  settle,.,  and  obtain        p  ^    • 
0  hle^a  confirmation  of  the  J.'ew-IIampshire  gC 
M.    Eoomson  pi-ocoeded    to  London,  and  laid   the 
subject  nefbre  his  Majesty. 
By  this  means  he  o'btained  an  order  from  the  ting, 


IP 

iljjl 

li 


1  Hii 

1'      ■ 

1 

^1   lit'. 

Ml*' 


"iifi 


i         : 


f 


M  :  :;i 


ir     > 


128        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OREEN-MOLNTAIN  IIEKOEB. 

(July  24,  17o7,)  as  follows :  "  Flis  MnjeBty,  taking  thf 
said  report  [.i  report  of  the  board  of  trade]  into  con 
sideration,  was  plea.ed,  with  the  advice  of  his  private 
council,  to  approve  thereof,  and  doth  hereby  strictly 
charnre,  require  and  command,  that  the  Governor  or 
Commander  in   Chief  of  his   Majesty's   Province  of 
Hew    York,  for   tl:^   time   being,  do   not,  upon   pain 
of  his  Ivlajesty's  highest  displeasure,  presume  to  make 
any  grant  whatsoever,  of  any  part  of  the  lands  de- 
scribed in  the  said  report,  until  his  Majesty's  further 
l^leasure  shall  be  known,  concerning  the  same." 

Notwithstanding  this  explicit  prohibition,  the  gov- 
ernor of  New  York  continued   to  make  grants;   and 
writs  of  ejectment  continued  to  be  issued,  returnable 
to  the  supreme  court  at  Albany.     On   trial  of  these 
actions,  it  was  decided  that  duly  authenticated  copies 
of  the  royal  orders  to  the  governor  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  of  the  grants  made  in  pursuance  of  those 
orders,  should  not  be  read  in  evidence.    Thus,  com- 
pelled  to  abandon  a  legal   defense,  the  settlers  were 
driven  to  the  last  resort.     A  convention  of  the  people 
assembled   at  Bennington,  and  "resolved,  to  support 
tlieir  rights  and  property  under  the  New-Hampshire 
grants,  against   the  usurpation  and    unjust  claims  of 
the  governor  and  council  of  New  York,  by  force,  as 
law  and  justice  were  denied  them." 

Conspicuous  among  those  who  were,  by  their  re 
sistance  to  N"w  York,  laying  the  foundation  upon 
which  the  independent  state  of  Vermont  has  been 
reared —  indeed  the  leader  and  champion  of  that  reso 
lute  band  of  husbandmen  who  first  planted  themselve? 
in    the   wilderness   of    the    Green    Mountains— wap 


THE  ALLKN  FAMILY. 


^29 


">■  iitlm,,  All"    J      ;      r'-""'^  '"•  '''^-    ^''-  '""- 
good  cLaracte,    ;  ;    ,•;  I  f'  ;"""•  •™"   ""•""'^'  '"• 

-iI,who,.e  ot  er  ;,',.;:  r^T  """"""  '"^'°™- 

-  -ns  and  two  rKtLT' "'*'''■"«• '"  «". 

g'-e«'  up  to  manhood,  and  ftl       /  ■"""™ 

grated  to  the  t.n.;t  *^*'''  "*  ""-'"'  «ni- 

b  lo  tue  temtoiy  west  of  the  Grpcn  ir       .  • 

t.>einhau:::;:i7-^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

a'^tive  and  enten„.i«i„J  f,  """""-Ives.     Bold, 

defended  with  ene  1 '  fi     ^^  '^^"""^  ^'"'  ^<''"  ""d 
what  M-e,.e  d  eme?  "™"  "''  ""  ^^"'^'^  "g"'™' 

o''  the  earl     ^  o    SLrAT.    ''"!"'"""  ''  ''"«™ 

".oval  to  Bennington,  VeLt't'TV"  '?  '"  '" 

year  1772,  although,  bewTnteLt  i"  """  "^"'  '^' 

We  portion  of  tire   ^2  '"  '  """'"" 

6|.ent  „,„eh  of  hi»  ..  ^''"^  "■""^"■■e  grants,  he  had 

''e^-'tyoflte'r;^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

locating  townships,  and  had  tZ;       ""  P"?"-  °*" 

■j-ontrovers^tiihKeii-rr  :.::■::  rr:? 

'■-  the  land  .pe;::;:! :  h':  rrv''^ 
"--  ^^'•"-'"-"ga.ed.he.epT:;:!;:';;: 

4 


I||8 


I 


130       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OREEN-MOLNTAIN  HEROES. 


icdi 


few 


b« 


extracts  from  it  cannot 
uninteresting;  for  they  depict,  in  a  lively  manner,  the 
nature  of  the  transactions  in  which  he  was  engaged, 
and  are  illustrative  of  his  character.  His  foresight 
in  the  choice  of  the  location  where  the  beautiful  and 
flourishing  town  of  Burlington  has  grown  up,  will  per- 
haps excite  quite  as  much  admiration  as  the  shrewd- 
ness he  displayed  in  disposing  of  worthless  lands.* 

1772.  "  My  next  object  was  to  make  a  map  of  the  town- 
ship of  Mansfield  with  the  allotimaits  and  survey-bills 
thereof,  agreeable  to  the  bond,  ifec,  I  had  given  the  Pro- 
prietors of  said  town  the  preceding  summer.  I  soon 
com})leted  tiie  map,  but  turning  my  attention  to  the 
field-books  that  Captain  Kememl)er  liaker  and  I  had 
kept,  a  difficulty  arose  in  my  mind,  for  my  object  was 
to  sell  out  of  Mansfield  at  all  events,  and  if  possible,  to 
get  the  ninety  pounds  for  the  survey,  &c.  A  great  pro- 
portion of  the  corners  of  said  lots  were  made  on  Spruce 
or  Fir  timber,  and  if  I  described  them  as  such,  it  would 
show  the  poorness  of  the  town,  and  raise  many  questions 
I  wished  to  avoid.  1  nuide  use  of  a  stratagem  that  an- 
swered my  p  jrpose.  In  my  survey-bills  I  called  Spruce 
and  Fir,  Greenwood,  a  name  not  known  by  the  people 
of  Sharon,  (the  place  where  the  Pro])riecors  lived.) 
They  asked  what  kind  of  timber  Greenwood  was.  I 
told  them  full,  straigljt  trees,  that  had  a  gum  much 
like  the  gum  on  Cherry-trees,  &c.  While  the  Proprie- 
tors were  busy  in  inspecting  the  map,  survey-bills,  tfec, 
I  took  aside  the  Brother  of  one  of  the  principal  Pro- 
prietors, who  was  an  ignorant  fellow,  and  owned  two 
rights  o£  land  in  the  town.  I  tried  to  buy  his  rights, 
but  he  dare  not  sell  them  without  first  consulting  his 
Brother.^  By  this  the  Proprietors  all  got  the  alarm 
that  I  wished  to  purchase,  and  Land  in  Mansfield  was 

*  Tlie  orif^inal  manuscript  of  Ira  Allen's  journal  is  in  the  possession 
of  Heiny  Stepliens,  Esq.,  of  IJarnet,  Vermont,  the  distinguished  anti 
quary  of  that  stnte.     The  extracts  are  given  verbatim,  and  are  now,  foi 
the  fiist  time,  pJaoad  beff>rt'  the  public. 


THE  ALLEN8  IN  ,VE\V  YOBK. 

considered  of  consr-nnor,^       t 

Id'd,;w„l  „l,tai„,,|  ('^ni, St,      '"',''    '""«l",^'l,i,.|, 

wliole  town.     IXavi,  Je,;'  J'    !  ^°"««l»onoo  tl„u,  ,i;J 

^•^w  i„rk  which  we  want'.;      C,7'i' {■""«"''•'-■*  ''■•»« 

pistols,  a  .ood  ea«e  ,?;S  * -™-'  -ith  hatehX^La 
each  a  g„od  |,a„     ,  8,ro      t"!   ''  '","■"•  P»<^ket8,  with 
7'   other  lands  i,,  the  colony  of '^"'v" ,"'«  "'"'•^■^''d 
ol.^d  under  the  character  „t"f{ri,-^ "!>  "''^-     ^^«  *■  ..v- 
Canada  to  :iew  York  t^en  itk  tf 'T''  »°''""  ''•'"" 
no  smal    parade.     My  brotl  e    II         "'I''?"'  "'"'  '"■"lo 
mercantile  lino,  set  ou^t  fo.  i^^w  VoT  't-  "'""  "'  * 
in  company  with  us  as  he  w.,o  ♦    '-°'*' ,'""  was  sol,!,,,,, 
road.     We  put  nnJl         ^  '""  '""=''  i<nown  on  tl,  ,t 
ins  P-eviousVeoPnctrtecf  ™"  """•  ^'-  Ii"riin^™i  n- 
q"aint  Mr.  Burling  ofotSi^^  "■"'',  "«»■«'  lo  a  - 
our  traveling  in  tl7at  .uanie      .e'!'  ""*'  "'«  '•«»■'«"'  "f 
on  him  cfee.     We  n,-„cec,Wl    :,!„     v""' '''"  ''''onltl  call 
part  of  Mr.  Burlinff's  So  „  according,  bought   ^roit 
tl-ee  days  there'^fi^ltt'  CtS"  "^  »"--Mpo,',' 
The  evening  before  we  leff  t  f  ^"^1  'o'on  who  we  were 
ness,  Hema^n  came  ^p    L  '  ,7. '![  ^■'"^'"S  <"»'  ^"st 
«  was  necessary  to  bo  to4'tl?e,  L  l      .  "",","  '"'»".  «« 
morning,  for  lieman  was  to  n,?l        '''?'*'  Part  no.xt 
^ork  (^imry  was  also  occasTona  Iv^  """'''''f  ^'^  '"  ^''^ 
t  was  with  much  difficulty  ]  emiiV"  l'^''^"^""  ^'""i') 
to  our  company  that  evenii'bvH.»-fff '''''■"'''« '^ 
^andlord,  and  after  ,,iies?ioM  of  th»        '"'''"'""'*' *''« 
Officers,  questioning    he  chml^L     /.".PP""'"'  ^'-'''"h 
■nerchant&c.     But^IIeim^  i^f  f '^  '^  ,C-^nectiout 
liis  hand  a  liberal  IWl  f    ?  ^°^  ''-''™  ^7  I'rinein.^  in 
difficulty  we  couw'17'k  ep  ^r'"'"?"     "  -a.,"rvi;; 
Landlord  retired,  which  S„!    ''"'""onances  tfll  the 

0"^  to  seetheastonishmemV  I'.rr-^'',"''^  ->"- 

*^  i^au^uurd  tiie  next 


It  -('- 


1  on 


ETnAN  AI.LEN  AND  GREEN -MOUNTAIN  HKROES, 


I    .1 


M 


moriiincr,  M-hen  we  called  in  our  bill  all  tou^ether,  and 
declared  who  we  were,  informing  a  Pedler  who  was 
pre^^ent,  going  direct  to  New  York,  that  I'ounties  were 
oflcred  Ibr  iif?,  giving  our  names  &c.     We  saw  the  Ped- 
le]'  set  Diit  at  tull  speed  to  Kew  York  to  raise  a  party 
against  ns,  as  lie  supposed  we  were  going  to  continue 
speculating  in  lands,  depending  on  our  own  arms  for 
defence.     On  his  arrival  in  New  York  he  went  to  the 
(lovernor  and  Council,  and  gave  his  deposition  of  our 
being  purchasing  Lands  &c.  at  the  White  Plains.     At 
first  it  was  ])roposed    to  send  a  party  of  light  horse 
men  after   us,  and    pre])arations  were  made   for  that 
purpose  ;    but  James   Duane,  Esq.  observed    that  we 
were  daring  fellows  and  no  doubt  well  mounted,  and 
had  gone  directly  out  of  the  colony  in  hopes  of  being 
pursued  to  laugh  at  our  pursuers,  that  it  was  in  vain 
to  pursue  Green  Mountain  Boys  on  their  guard  ttc. 
,]Mr.  Duane  was  perfectly  right,  for  within  two  hours 
after  the  express  arrived  in  Xew  York  we  were  in  the 
colony  of  Connecticut,  in  hopes  of  being  pursued,  to 
gain  a  greater  oppc»rtunity  to  satarize  oui-  adversaries. 
1773.  "I  went  and  pitched  a  number  of  hundred-acre 
lots  contiguous  to  Burlington  Bay.     The  land  in  itself 
was  great  part  poor-looking  Pine  plains.     Tiiis  move 
of  mine,  astonished  my  friends,  who  had  observed  me 
to  be  very  enterprising  in  pitching  good  lands,  and  that 
much  good  land  renuiined  untouched  in  Burlington ; 
and  I  gave  no  reasons  for  my  conduct,  which  raised 
many  questions  and  disputes  ;  indeed  I  did  not  but  in 
part  explain  myself  to  my  worthy  friend  and  partner, 
Baker  ;  for  I  found  he  had  but  little  opinion  of  that 
place,  but  looked  for  good  lands,  more  than  situations  ; 
observing  tliat  good  lands  would  certainly  l)e  of  conse- 
quence, but  it  was  haid  to  determine  where  places  of 
consequence  would  arise  in  a  country  so  extensive  and 
new,  that  after  securing  the  best  of  the  lands  by  pitches, 
we  might  in  consequence  of  settlements,  ttc,  be  [a  few 
lines  illegible  in  the  original  nuinuscript]  of  situations, 
and  pitcli  or  purchase  any  lands  we  miglit  think  of  con 
sequence.    These  remarks  were  of  much  good  sense,  but 
Baker  had  not  explored  the  country  so  much  as  I  hud 


IRA  Allen's  journal. 


133 


queiit  satires,  passed  on  m         ^     ^''''^'"  ^"e^s^ns.     Fre- 
ton  and  otheivs  lijid   bimlT  •     ^^'"'^^^''^^'^^^ua  Stan- 

by  knic  name  [  .1      ]"f/s",  "Jf^^^"  P^tch  pi„e  pj,^ 
'0  far  as  to  caJ]  Stub  a  Lj    'o  •  r  7,  •'™^^  *^'^J^J<« 
t'athecon]dnot.n\'eanv^oni      ^''^'^""^  ^"^^  lands 
cheerfully  answerSj  to  7  f        '"'^'''^^  ^^^  ^t.     Stub  as 
solved  to^ake  fe.1  a  liSe  in  3  "  ^^  ^"^  ^^'-"'  - 
reasons  neither,  observed  tint  h    f  ^'  "^  ^^tisfactorj 
tley  could  not  see  use  for  Ifoh  i    T  '"''P^-'^^d  that 
situa  ,on  <fec,tbatfor  a  dll      I     ^"^^  considering  its 
^' ve  his  reas'ons.     Thfs  th  v  !      '^     ^""'^^  ^^^  ^^uld 
louM  have  the  punch   n^  E  ''  ?7'.  ^"^  ^^"'^ 
^le  began  to  give  his  reaso  s      tI^'''''^  '^''''^  before 
;j;"ch  apparent  candor  t  at  the  Tn  '  "^'"^  ^^'"^  ^^'^^  «o 
punch  was  brought  in  a    ISt  h  TTfJ'y  P^^P^^i^d,  the 
passed  it  round      All  !       .-"^  ^'^^^  ^^e  lirst  (WnLand 

^pveln-sreasonst^-St^ir^^'"^  ^'^'^^  ^^^ 
^^^en  Stub  putting,  on  a  i"f^"^^^"^'"^^^^^ins 
^  the  iite^of  ma^n  was  ^t"37,,^«";^.^'Vance  began.' 

tree  score  years  and  ten   timt  tlH      T^  estimated  at 
tiiat  pei-iod  of  life,  vet  rn^nv  f  f^""''^^'  some  survived 

^^11  the  time  of  the^i  dTsStt  /  ^  'f  "^"«  ^-"W 
was  easy  dicmin,^  ^,„i  ""'^^soiution,  that  dry  Pin^  ,,]„•„ 

with  eaci,  otljer  and  v  S  ,1.         T'"*'^'' ^'""^e.'sed 

--<;  bank  tLe^n'uIt;t^udT  t,"v'on°  ""^  "•"■"  "-'''>' 
Kington  Hay  &c     Tl.;^  c^  ■      ^  ^  commerce  in  T^nr 

^otadoubl^twlof  pun^^^^^^^^^^  bavi"  i"^    * 

;^-y  very  little  ^LJ::'^^^'^  f/"^'^  nei^hbts 

i.iains  for  considerable  time  A  ^^^^'l^ngtou  Pine 

•  The  following  amusi,,,.  narradv«  of  j,,  - 
loat,  us  told  bv  }.i,n  ;„  .1,.        ...  -'    "<1  -' 


r?io3t. 


Id  by  hi 


"' '"  '^^«  a"tobiogmphy  f, 


liii'ii-s  nd 


■*J'n  which  thttab, 


venture  witi 


"ve  exiiueu 


ii'  ! 


'i-'ii. 


134        ETHAN  ALLEN  ANL  GKEEN-MOUNTAIN  UEKOES. 

Seth  Warner  was  second  only  to  Ethan  Allen  in 
that  energetic  resistance  to  the  claims  of  Governor 
Tryon,  which  ultimately  led  to  the  independence  of 
Vermont.     He  was   born  in  Woodbury,  Connecticut, 

are  taken   will  doubtless  be  interesting,  aa  illustrative  of  the  charac- 
ter  of  the  Aliens :   "  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mclntlre  were  from   Scotland,  and 
Lad  two  daughters  about  twenty-four  years  of  age.     The  old  lady  and 
her  daughters  used  to  amuse  me  by  telling  many  frightful  stories  respect- 
ing ghosts,  apparitions,  <tc.,  appearing  to  people  in  Scotland,  (fee,  amongst 
which  was  many  stories  respecting  an  old  woman  appearing  without  a 
head.     One  evening  I  challenged  the  old  woman  without  a  head,  and  all 
the  ghosts,  (fee,  to  meet  me  at  any  time  and  place  they  chose.     This  ex- 
ceedingly alarmed  my  honest  landlady  and  daughters,  and  they  all  seemed 
exceeding  anxious  for  my  safety  for  being  so  presumptuous  as  to  make 
such  a  challenge,  and  not  doubting  but  that  I  should  meet  with  difficulty 
the  first  time  belated  and  in  the  woods  in  the  evening.     The  next  day  1 
found  a  part  of  the  hogs  that  had  been  strayed  away  and  become  wild, 
with  all  tlie  art  I  had,  could  not  get  them  so  gentle  as  to  come  to  them  till 
near  dark,  at  which  time  I  was  at  least  three  miles  in  the  wilderness. 
There  was  then  a  snow  on  the  ground  about  four  inches  deep.     I  made 
the  best  of  my  way  to  gain  a  foot-path  from  Mr.  Mclntire's  to  a  beaver 
meadow.     In  the  way  I  passed  a  thicket  of  Hemlock,  &c.,  under  which 
it  was  dark,    I  cut  a  staff  about  three  feet  long  to  defend  my  eyes  «tc. 
from  limbs  that  might  come  in  my  face.     In  this  way  I  found  the  foot 
path,  in  which  several  loads  of  hay  had  been  carried  from  the  meadow 
to  the  house  which  had  mixed  leaves,  snow,  «fec.,  so  that  I  could  discovei 
the  foot  path  for  twenty  rods  before  me.    At  this  time  for  the  fii-st  time 
that  night  I  thought  of  the  old  woman  without  any  head  at  which  I  had 
a  hearty  laugh  to  think  whether  I  should  turn  out  if  she  met  me  in  that 
narrow  path.    I  thought  no  more  of  the  matter  till  I  Lad  walked  about 
one  mile,  when  to  my  no  small  surprise  at  about  eight  rods  distance,  I 
discovered  the  perfect  appearance  of  a  woman  in  the  path  without  any 
head  ;  her  shoulders,  waist,  arms  akimbo,  her  hands  on  )    r  hips,  women's 
clothes  &  feet  below  were  in  perfect  shape  before  me  which  I  viewed 
with  astonishment 

I  reasoned  to  myself  is  this  appearance  fictitious  or  real.  If  the  God 
of  Nature  authorises  sucb  apperations  then  there  is  no  flying  from  them. 
What  injury  can  they  possibly  do  me  ?     I  had  been  promised  faithfully 


BETH  WAfiNER. 


135 


young,  Seth  at  once  toot  a?  '"•     ^'"-""S^uite 

o«s  controversies  and  "t      T"""™'  P"' '»  ">«  -"H- 

gnished  in  his  youth  a,  L  "^  "">«  '^'««°- 

i'oo'i.  *br  the  soM it  \  d    ZtrrV"  "^■'^  ""- 
^■•t''  .0  other  scholastic  advttaLt't,:     "'T''"^- 
common  school  education  aiibrd Tv^    1   ™     ,"'  " 
toges   were   employed   to  tl,»T  .    ^         "'^  ''''™°- 
a-id,  at  his  maiolr  ,  P'''"''^  P-'Po^e; 

ino;ied„    S"5'  '''  ''''  P°^^^«^ed  of  a  f„„d  of 
rt^'  wiiich  was  as  serviopihlo  oo  v  -^  i     , 

obtained  in  the  classic  walks  of  H.        ,        '""'  "'"''" 
elms  o(  Yale  iiarvard,  or  under  the 

*irt^  yard,,  befo,'  I  di«t     '  '"T''"  '  °"'"»  "'">«  "b""' 

"Wch  tho  woodcock,  had  pecW  'A  ^^  "■'■""  ""™'^  "  ^"""^ 
•le  wood  had  become  whtoh  aid  ,  b  ,  J"  "'"'  *"''  »"  '»"?  ">« 
The  darkne,,  of  .be  nfeh  '  ^  J''l  T  "'  "*"  P""  "^"^  "t 
-"■il»  .be  reflection  of  snow    b„„eTb       ,  """"  "'°  ""*"  »'-'•. 

lighter  .he  whole  ,.„„p  „„  J;;,™'"      '  ''"''•    ""^  ''  "-a  a  li.t,! 
P«r.  eo„H  have  been  L„     To  "If      "'T  "  "'"'  *"""  ''"<'  "° 
I  Weked  away  .he  .now,  and    br I'w?'    '  '  "'"'  '■^*  '»  ''bere 
fe«  *«po.    I  occasionali;  pl^  ;"  "7=".  «8-«  appeared  in  per- 
«  a  «„ewhen  ,„eh  an  „pp«"lvc     wT  *,'"""""'  "'""•  •>"'"»> 

%b..ned  and  ran  awa/ni^, :'  .t"::" "''.•    ""^  '  ^» 
£f;p«aiaiices."  ^'^^  ""^'^  uwievwi  in  such 


m 


136        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOUNTATN  HEROES. 


hii| 


a   I 


I 


4    . 

'i  h 


forests  were  uncleared,  while  no  Gchool-hoiise  or  church 
had  been  erected,  there  was,  it  would  seem,  but  little 
to  encourage    the   mind  of  that   Connecticut    boy  to 
become  a  resident  among  the  Green  Mountains.     But 
the  rivers,  lakes   and    ponds   were   filled    with    laro-e 
quantities   of   excellent   fish.     The   forests   abounded 
with  every  variety  of  ganie,  and  in  the  dells  and  on 
the  hills  could  be  seen  flowers  of  rare  excellence  and 
beauty.     "Solomon  in  all  his  glory  was  not  arrayed 
like   one  of  these."      Young  Warner  was   a  skillful 
botanist.     He  sought,  partly  from  necessity  but  chiefly 
from   choice,   to   render   himself   familiar   with   such 
plants  and  roots  as  were  indigenous  to  Vermont.     We 
are  assured   that  no  man  acquired  more  information 
touching   the   nature  and   properties  of  such  natural 
productions  than  he.    With  such  invaluable  knowledge, 
he  was  exceedingly  useful  in  new  settlements,  where  he 
could  administer  relief  when  medical  assistance  could 
not  easily  be  obtained. 

Young  Warner  was   a  huntsman,  too.     The  ready 
pen  of  that  romance-writer  who  cordially  sympathizes 
with  every  effort   to  learn  the  character  of  the  early 
^ttlers  of  this  state,  represents  him,  under  the  character 
of  "Colonel  Warrington,"  as  a  successful  lover  of  the 
pleasures  of  the  chase.     Traveling  back  eighty  years 
if  we  wish  to  see  him  as   he  was,  we  find   him  an 
inhabitant  of  one  of  the  rude  cabins  that  were  thinly 
scattered   through  the  wilderness.      We  observe  him 
felling  the  forest,  or  tilling  the  soil  which  had  never 
been  touched  by  any  hand  before.    There  will  be  found 
around   his   cabin,  unbroken   silence,  save  when   the 
stroke  of  his  ax  awakens  the  echo,  or  the  howl  of  the 


8ETH  WARNER. 

1  'i7 
wolf  disturbs  the  fl„Il  ear  nf  „  ■  i   •  , 

of  all  Ws  iHbo™,  as  w   1  Tsll        '•"'''"•    ^"  "'"  '"'d^' 
to  be  ,.cacly  wit    tbe      Id  J'T '""' '"  ''  ^"'"P^''^^ 

ing  savage,     -y,^   "if"^  "'"^^''  "> '^P^I  tie  im*. 
°  b  X  uu  see   a   iTiJin  r^f  r. 

even  ,„aje.,tic  appea.,,nee.    TW,  'a  ,  .7      "  ""' 

so  compactly  and   finely  set  are      •      •    ,    '""'""'" 

contour  presents  nothing  to  thT.      •      >  """  ''« 

proportioned  or  un^ainjv      7     %  ^'  '"  ""  '''''^'  '"«■ 

respond  in  reaularftv  nf  V  •       "''  ^'''™  '"  '"'• 

person,  ...hiltri-thirth^^^'^ 

shapely  head  or  ma^v?    '/"'^'''''  ^^*«"'e'-  o*'  tis 
^tron/well-baLcT  c'harTcrr:'  ''"'  '»  »"-  ^ 

-tion  beyond  the  scope  rc::;::;a:;t:!,rp""-^ 

With  a  broadlT IXLT^^^e^nr''^:  t^- 

arched,  his  physioL"  v     ^  '  ""''  "'^""''"■"y 

-ntelligenVL-relf— -^^^^^^^^^ 

early  settlers  of  the  New-IW  •  '"'  °^  "" 

-•''^.  to   use  his  quick  e^  3::/™'^,-    «»«"- 
i-unting  after  game  in  the  fore  ts  "nd      .  (  """  '" 

~e  taste  in  the  dells  and  tr::S::?di:r 

See  tJ,o  "Green  Mountain  Boys,.,  by  Daniel  PT. 

J  '      Jf  i^aniel  P.  1  hompscn,  Esq. 


m 

k  Ml 

ill 


ll''' 


t 


!* 


[|    1 


i4\ 


I 


138         ETHAN  ALLKN  AND  OREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES, 

plants  wore  most  abiindniit,  he  became  wideij  known 
as  one  upon  wliose  iisefulnt'ss  ajid  humanity  reliance 
could  be  reposed.  And  thus  was  laid  the  basis  of  that 
reputation  which,  in  after  times,  rendered  him  so  in- 
fluential and  powerful  for  good  when  "  the  slings  and 
arrows  of  outrageous  Fortune  "  were  hurtled  at  those 
who,  like  himself,  had  pitched  their  tents  among  the 
green  hills  of  Vermont. 

Captain  Kkmkmbek  Baker,  who  was  early  associated 
with  Allen  and  Warner,  was,  like  the  latter^  a  native 
of  Woodbury,  Connecticut.     lie  was  born  about  the 
year  1740.     In  his  youth  he  was  deprived  of  his  father, 
who  was  accidentally  shot  by  a  neighbor,  while  on  a 
hunting  excursion.     Young  Baker,  being  thus  left  an 
orpiian,  was  sent  to  live  with  and  learn  the  trade  of  a 
joiner,  by  whom  he  was  taught  to  read  and  write,  and 
was  made  acquainted  with  figures.     In  the  year  1757 
he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  in  an  expedition  against  Can- 
ada.    He  also  served  in  the  ensuing  campaign  as  a 
non-commissioned  officer,  and  gained  much  applause 
for  his  intrepidity.     He  was  also  at  the  storming  of  the 
French  lines  when  Abercrombie  was  defeated  before 
Ticonderoga,  and  his  bravery  in  that  fatal  action,  as 
well   as  his  discretion  on  the  retreat  of  the  colonial 
forces,  gave  him  considerable  distinction.     He  contin- 
ued a  third  year  in  the  -ervice,  but  returned  to  Con- 
necticut after  the  conquest  of  Canada.     In  the  year 
1763,  he  remo/ed  to  the  Xew-Ilarnpshire  Grants,  as 
the  country  which  afterward   received   the  name  of 
Vermo-'  v\^as  then  called,  where  he  spent  considerable 
time  in  exploring  the  wild  lands,  and  in  hunting  the 
game  with  which  the  Green  Mountains  then  abounded. 


BENNINGTON. 

"-.to...  This  a«.  1 ' :  r^r''^''  -""^  -'•  ^^- 

increased  with  much  rapidity  ^     Ai-l,„gt„n 

"0  doubt  designed  that  the  aotua  „f  ~''"'^  ''  ^''^ 
territory  would,  as  in  the  else  of  f'^'""^  "''  ""^ 
Massachusetts,  result  in  sett,in;;h,.tvr"'r'  ""'' 
"..ght  arise,  respecting  iurisdicM-  <'<"'^'^'>vovsy 

Hampshire.    The  charre,      '1  '  '"    """^  "'' ^«»- 

in  aixt,-four  equa  1"'  tT''!  '"'  "'-"  ^-"ted 
o»"ed,  ot-  tl  J  hundHn;  :;f :-"-'%  were 
grantees  resided  princinan!  •*  -^  ''"'  '"=''•  The 
".outh,  New  Ham';    r  \';;°'  """%-  at  Ports- 

'.e.ieved.everremoCedtotheor^Ti:    '^'"'V^ 
were  purchasers  under  the  ori^inai   ,7  '""'•'™ 

were  from  Massachusetts     s!n    Ti  ^/"P""^""^^  and 
wich,  who  had  been  fo   s'everal  '"""'  ""^''■•<'- 

French  war,  on  his  ret  ^^m  fal!  r"''""  '"  "'« 
Massachusetts,  while  nrocln  ^"'"■«"  '»  ^ort 

foot  t„e  Wal,;oms;  ir*Trtft  1"  """"j'^-^^'  -- 
''  7  to  the  tract  of  eoun^;  w  L  'hl^'h  ''"''""'' 
"nder  the  name  of  Benninln  t,  '^  .  '"  ^'^"'"^ 
tliat  he  had  missed  h;«  „  ,        '"'•'  '"'  discovered 

'^efort.  n.z^:;^::^^^is....^,, 

returned  to  his  family  with  a  d.^  "'""'*'"y'  '""^ 

settlement  upon  it     H  "       ''f.''-™'n«ti„„  to  begin  a 
•  See  T,  aecordmgly  repaired  to  kw 

'^"'""■ntem  vemont-au  lavaloable  ^-ork  to  aU 


i      H 


140        ETriA.V  ALLEN  AND  OREKN-MOUNT  iIN  HEROES. 

Hampshire,  iniido  })iircfuise8  of  a  corisidorable  portion 
of  the  "riglitH,"an(l  then  sought  for  persons  who  would 
undertake  to  occupy  the  huids.     Tliese  were  readilj 
found,  and  the  settlement  of  the  town  was  coh.menced 
in  the  spring  of  17^51.     The  first  emigrants  were  Ilar- 
woods,  Eobinsons  and  Pratts,  and,  with  their  families, 
consisted  of  al)out  twenty  persons.     They  traveled  on 
liorseback,  and  in  that  way  transported  all  their  house- 
hold effects,  of  which,  it  may  be  imagined,  there  was 
no  considerable  variety  or   quantity.      They  reached 
the  town  on  the  18th  of  June.     Benjamin  Ilarwood, 
(who  was  still  living  a  few  years  ago,)  was  the  first 
person  born  in  the  town,  (January  12th,  17<52.)     In  the 
fall  of  1701,  ,nany  other  families  settled  in  Bennington, 
and  the  place  rapidly  grew  in  importance.     Among 
the  first  cares  of  tlie  people,  after  the  erection  of  suita- 
ble habitations,  was  the  establishment  of  a  church  and 
a  school.      Tlie   first   meeting  of  the  proprietors,  of 
which  a  record  has  been  kept,  was  held  February  12th, 
17G2.     A  committee  was  then  appointed  "to  look  out 
a  place  for  a  meeting-house  ; "  and   soon  after  a  site 
was  agreed  upon,  and  a  church  was  immediately  con- 
structed, which  was  paid  for,  partly  by  individual  con- 
tributions, and  partly  by  a  tax  on  the  proprietors  of 
the  town.     Upon  the  organization  of  the  church,  the 
"Cambridge  platform"  was  adopted,  except  such  parts 
as  admitted,  according  to  the  New-England  fashion  of 
that  day,  the  aid  of  the  civil  magistrates  in  enforcing 
the  supDort  of  the  ministry,  and  their  coercive  power 
over  the  church  in  other  matters.     They  denominated 
themselves  " Congregationalists,"  but  being  in  advance 
of  the  great  maj.u-ity  of  their  brethren  of  that  period 


r>m  PIONKKKS  „f  VEHMONT.  j^j 

in  thf  liberality  uf  ti,eir  views  of  r,.l-  •        , 

were  for  some  t„„e  oalle,!  "T  *"""  *^^'''^''°"'- 

ir«3,  tl,e  Kev.  Je  ,.  d    ;  „^<''«"-'"-'«-"    In  the  ,a„  of 

to  M.e  enconra^onlent  i,e  ob  a  ne^      '  ""'  '"  '"^'^'"•- 
tribu.io,,,,  he  received  from  l!,,        "  '°'""""-^  <"'"■ 
»  donation  of  three  h„  Id  I^sf^^^^^ 
e%il.ly  situated,  .,.ieb   ^     a,i  ^^;t^"°'■''"•'• 
"«l.t."    Mr.  Dewe,  continued       Sde  withT"'"' 
gregation  at  Bennington  until  .     ^    .  "'"  ''""- 

<r«3,  the  proprietorst    d  a,     o  r    ', "  "''■     '" 
>'ome,  and  sixty  dollar,  1  "''^'"^  *  '"-'''ool- 

po.-tin,  a  scho'oMt';:re;:t  ;r  ~  -p- 

town."  ^^^  ^°  ^^^t-^se  parts  of  the 

". e'wanTjrrsTr-^''  T"  -■"—•»-  ^"^ 
'l-se  difficultie  tL  „M  •  "'  '""'^-  ^^  -'''•eome 
e.-alIy-ope„e'roai  ;:'""."''  '^^<"^  ""^'"«'^'^-  lib- 
-™eted  bL,es  Ch  ee:::  t^ ^'  ^""^  ^-- 

each  saw  and  flourin.  ™  n  T  '  ''"  '"•^^"■™  "^ 

was  paid  by  the  nl,    /  '      ^""'^  °*'  '"'''^  d»"»™ 

'"..abLntso^fttCrZdS"-''"'^'  ^"°"^  «- 
been  found  for  the  hJ.  7   "''''  "  ""*««  ''ad 

-rth,and  set,    J  tt  loT     "^ '^"™™- ^-t- 

from  various  quarter    The     ^  °''''  ""^  ■"»""'«>•'" 

tbe  townships  had  been  r,TjT  "T'   "P""  "'"''=1> 

purchasers  to  dispose "?«,'  '""'''''  "'«  ""S'""! 

-7'owprices,thrho    intoTtsZV'T  '"'"'   "' 
«'«lers.    Apprehensions  as  to  the    ^    •'"""'""^ '»• 
Wo.  may  also  have  induced   t,«       "^"^  "^  '^^'^ 
P-'-aq„iet  sale  with  sm,,  ,     fif"'  ^^P"^'"-  '° 
prospect  of  larger  „a  ,s  "f  »'7^''- '"  "-  '"•eenam 

^  ■"  '^  '"""-e  day.     By  this 


I 


u 


I  ' 


;  J 

142 


KTHAN  ALLEN  AND  ORRKN-MOUNTATN  ITCROEa. 


of 


union  Of  policy  and  interest,  urn  janrls  were  rupinij 
sold,  in  tracts  of  various  dinionHions,  to  practical  farm- 
ers, who  resolved  to  establish  themselves  as  i)ermanent 
residents  on  the  soil.     Many  settlements  were  begun, 
and  when,  after  enduring  almost  incalculable  hardships 
and  the  severest  toil,  thoy  began  to  realize  the  blessings 
for  ft-hich  they  had  lalH>red  so  indefatigably,  the  alarm- 
itig  intelligence  reached  them,  that  they  must  repur^ 
chjKse  their  lands  from  the  government  of  New  York, 
at  exorbitant  prices,  or  be  expelled  from  their  homes 
and  deprived  of  their  possessions.     To  pay  a  second 
time  for  their  lands  at  their  original  value,  would  have 
been  regarded  as  grossly  unjust ;  but  to  be  required  to 
purchase  the  improvements  which  they  had  made  in 
effort  and  self-denial,  was  a  demand  which  they  felt 
that  they  could   neet  only  with  armed  resistance. 

In  regard  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  government  of 
New  York,  which  had  been  established  by  order  of 
the  crown  in  July,  1764,  as  heretofore  stated,  they  were 
not  disposed  to  have  any  serious  controversy.     They 
were,  indeed,  lamiliar  with  the  laws  and  institutions  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  preferred  them  to  those  of  New 
York.     New   Hampshire,  as   well  as  the  other  New- 
England  provinces,  recognized  the  townships  as  little 
republics,  in  which  the  people,  at  annual  town-meetings 
appointed  their  own  legal  officers,  and,  in  conformity 
with  estallished  laws,  made  their  own  municipal  regu- 
lations.     In  New  York,  most  of  these  matters  were 
then  either  subjects  of  direct  provincial  legislation,  or 
came  under  the  still  more  anti-republican  superintend- 
ence of  the  governor  and  council,  or  of  the  judges  of 
the  courts,  who  were  the  creatures  of  their  appointment. 


GOVKRNOR  TRYON.  . ,„ 

made  dear  to  tl,e,n  an.M  "''"■'^ '■'l"«.ti„„  hud 

be  convenient  an    '    !    '"?  ^T'""™™  '""'  ''™^'=''  '» 

wIhcI,  individnak  ,i         /"'"""^  'ermed  manors,  of 
were  the  owe       .„;:;'";""'  '""'""^"«  "'  '"'"■'-«. 

ti.eirte„„„t,:5 :;  :'--''-»^  "'^^"'•'  -- 

»""  -..juration,  aieoi  r:rr^  1  "r  "^■•"" 

notions  of  personni  „       >•  "'"'  ^ ""'■Kngland 

-nee  to  ^  JZ::^'^^"'' ^>"^ -^'^'^  Vr<^ 

j..risdietion  of  Kew  Yorf  .  h"^'"  ''""'P^'"'-'  "-e 
.ole  aim  of  G^vernl  rr  '  '""*  •'"™*''''ion  been  the 
acqnieseed  in.  ^'^°"'  """"-^  ''"^o  been  quietly 

But  the  governor  of  IVpw  v«.7  i,    i 

Vew,  t,,an  that  of  simpj  e^H';;!  ""'^  "^J-'^  ■" 

Sovernment  over   thJ  L     ,         ^  ""e  powers  of  his 

Hampshire  Grants "    rf    ''      '"'"""'"'"^  "'«  "^«- 

•luantity  of  fertile  1,    >    '*'  ^''""^^  contained  a  large 

-^e  t^b,;i;:t;z''imt"''"^ "-'  ^-" 

settlers ;  and  the  ten,„,  i  ""P'^<»'«™ent9  of  the 
P-fit  from  them Vr  t'oo  :r  '"  "'""'  "  P^--^ 
therefore  called  oT the "e  ?""  I"  '^  '■"'■^"'''•*  "« 
surrender  their  i„"t,».''  ^^  P'-''«''""»tion,  to 

^-•">-    A  .ew  ofrtlt  ,r  c''^^'^ ''-''  '"""^  '•™"' 

Pb-ed;  but  most  of  them  i^fj.^"""*'''"""  ""«■•  ™m. 

--••■-twecn  two  and  three  thousand  dollH™. 


.1    i 


I 


H4       KTIIAN  ALLEN  AND  ORRKN-MOirNTAIN  IfKItOKb. 

Crovernor  Tryon  mmlo  now  grants  of  tho  town  to 
others:  jirincli.ally  to  his  friends  and  dependents, 
including  some  belonging  to  Ids  council,  and  also 
.judges  of  the  courts,  members  of  the  bar,  and  of 
the  colonial  assembly.  The  liinitation  of  these  grants 
to  a  favored  class  who  were  connected  with  the  gov- 
ernmenf,  will  account  for  the  pertinacity  with  which 
the  New-^'ork  claims  were  afterward  prosecuted  by 
the  rulers  of  the  province,  as  well  as  the  apathy  with 
which  their  successive  efforts  to  eject  tho  original 
settlers  were  seconded  by  the  people  at  large. 

The  Nev  ■    vk  purchasers  caused  their  lands  to  be 
surveyed   pn  curatory  to  making  sales   or  leases   of 
them.     This  proceediiig  was  quite  unacceptable  to  the 
actual  0(!cupants  of  the  land,  and  whenever  the  sur- 
veyors  were   discovered,    they    were    roughly    driven 
from  their  employment.     One  of  the  surveyors,  in  at- 
tempting   to  run    a   line  across   the  farm    of  Samuel 
Robinson,  of  J3ennington,  was  attacked  by  him  with 
a   hoe  and    driven  off.     For   this,  Robinson  was   ap- 
prehended  ;  but  after  being  confined  for  two  months 
in  the  jail  at  Ali>any,  was  released,  on  the  payment 
of  a   fine.     Others   who   resisted    were   indicted,   but 
the  sheriff  of  Albany  county,  (which  then   extended 
to  the  Connecticut  river,)  was  generally  unsuccessful 
in   his   attempts   to   arrest   them.     The"^  people   were 
alarmed    by  Lh-se   and   other  demonstrations   by  the 
governor  of  New  York,  but  having  a    trong  reliance 
upon  the  justice  of  their  cause,  and  being  confident 
that  the  crown  had   been  deceived  in  regard   to  the 
subject,  or  that  a  wrong  construction  had  been  placed 
upon  the  ord^r  of  the  king,  prepared  a  reraonst-ancp 


^•'•KAl.  Tu  Ti,K  KINO. 


^/.-a.n.t  tl,o  procc.o,lfn.H  of  :^^, 


«'^*  i  7()'f;,  ut 


HX'Ht  si,ie  of  tlio  ( 


'I  f^'o/ivcntion  of  t\ 


^'^^  Vork,  and  in  tl 


146 
10  fall 


liohi 


n 


^t'M  u«  their 


UA'ent  t 


'«  several  towns  on  t\ 


t'dim 


10 


""'^     -  advocate    ti.eir   an..H  '"  '^""^"''^''^ 


•  _  ■"  ""^  ^t'nion.stranci^ 
I-'««mU  BolicitationH/li^!;  r'';':  ^•^'-  ^^^'-^;  f^y  iws 
"  PurcM.tHl  ^'overnnu.n^  in  u)  ^  .  ''""^  ''""'''^'^'  ^''"t 
^^'■^/--d    to'view  tl.a  :  "*'  '  "'^^^'^-  ^'-T  were 


]H>8sibJy  desire  to  (I 


"^^   ^'f  tlie  rnotlie 


j';«I>^'''ty,  tor   the    benefit   of 


^'P'-'ve  them  of  their  h 


ii-  country,  could 


%  fiome  of  tJie  tow 


th 


0  onih, 


♦''  ^tivv   land- 
'|«5  t'leir  shaz-e  of  tlio 


fU'd-earned 


the 


^^^y  was  levied    i„    the  fbrn. 


^pGcuJators. 
expense  of 


P'-opneror.;  while  in  othen 


«^'  a  tax  np 


ir.n 


pox-,  and  .lied.  '  """""^  ^""'  H-e  email- 

J'.'«  P"W»s  of  Ooveraor  Tryon    In    1  •      «■ 
"l"'"n   possession   of  tl,e  ^i,p,Zd   In  w       '^""''^  '" 

P"-<i   to  making  grants.    It  w.     il       *'"-"  ''-  '■'^- 
'■"^'"•■cl,  that  tl,e  order  did  „     '    7'''""'  "*»'"'   'i'S- 

'"■«  '"ki"«  possession  of  11,      ,  '::''""''""-^'  >■"'"'"'■ 
.-."ted,  l,nt  on'y  forbal  2*  "''''^''  ''«  ''-'  -Irealy 

tl'at  the  tint's  order  "did  nt  '"''''^''   '"•"' 

governor  from  the  ..-rantin,,    f  ''  '"  ^'"'''""*'  'I"-' 

»ot  previously  been "ra^/, ""^J""*  '''''"''  '-<' 
'lo  therefore  pro-Tdedt  ''  ^"^  "^V.hire." 

-'•'Hg.ui-der,  and  continued 


^' 


n- 


IP      : 

1     !      'i 


146        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  QEEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

giving  lands  to  his  friends,  without  rega.d  to  their 
having  been  previously  granted  by  New  Hampshire. 
Thus,  the  mission  of  Mr.  Robinson  to  England,  although 
attended  with  apparent  success,  had  no  other  eiiect 
upon  the  ]S^ew-York  government,  than  to  impose  a 
temporary  check  upon  its  operations.  However,  it 
inspired  the  settlers  with  new  confidence  in  the  jus- 
tice of  their  cause,  and  gave  them  strong  r-asons  to 
hope  that  their  rights  would  eventually  be  acknowl- 
edged and  protected  by  the  "home  government,"  which 
was  then  recognized  as  the  supreme  authority  that 
would  finally  decide  the  question. 

In  17G9,  the  efforts  of  the  New- York  claimants  to 
obtain  possession  of  the  disputed  lands,  were  again 
commenced  with  great  vigor.  In  Octobe/*  of  that 
year,  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bennington  were 
assembled  on  the  farm  of  James  Brackenridsre,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  town,  for  the  purpose  of  assisting 
him  in  harvesting  his  corn.  While  they  were  thus 
employed,  a  number  of  surveyors  came  upon  the  farm, 
and  appeared  to  be  running  a  line  across  it.  Mr. 
Brackenridge,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Robinson  left  their 
work,  and  entered  into  conversation  with  them.  The 
suTveyors  declared  that  they  were  acting  under  the 
authority  of  the  state  of  New  York,  for  the  purpose  of 
dividing  among  the  proprietors  the  patent  of  "Wallum- 
Bchaik.*  Brackenridge  and  Robinson  forbade  their 
proceeding  further,  stating,  at  the  same  time,  that  it 


•  It  was  asserted  that,  about  ten  years  previous  to  the  grant  of  the 
township  of  Bennington  by  Governor  Wentworth,  a  Dutchman,  named 
Wallum,  had  obtained  from  the  governor  of  New  York,  a  grant,  cov- 
ejinjjf  nearly  all  of  the  sanae  territorv,  although   he  took  no  measures 


JJVDI0TMENT8. 

ve,,  and   retired'  i^nHTl  '™'"  ""^'^  -- 

governor  and  council  of  V  ^  ,  '  P'''"'"'"^''  ^e 
sta«ng,  ti^at  the  co^ii  1^:  i";";  »  «'«  -»Ject; 
^'ding  the  patent  of  Wallumll  i.  l""^"^  '"  ^''- 
'ently  opposed  by  sundrv  ^'^'  ^^'^   ^'"'^  "^O" 

;;>eir,thr:ata  fro^cTeinTr '  .^"'r^-'^^  "^ 
them."    Upon  ^j,;  ,  «  '"«,  —ts  reposed    in 

the  governor  "fo     a  're,      r'"°"  ^''  '^^"^"^   ^y 
principals  and   r;:ad: !"''!"/"''    ^^^"""^  «>' 
January  term   of  tile  coJt'at  1  ha"'  """  '"""^'"^ 
-ns  v,ho  had  been  present  were     2'  f""'  ^""■ 
Among  them  was  the  Rp.    ;^f'=    n<iicted  as  rioters. 
Robinson,  Elijah  f1;  Jhl/'f '  ^^^^^  Joseph 
Bobmson,  and   John  Stewart.    Kone  of  t'h      T"' 
ever,  were  arrested   or   brought   to!    ^     T'  ^'"^- 
tempts,  of  a  simJl.,     ,     ""^ht  to  tnal.    Other  at- 

the  same  LZ  J  'T'  "'"  '''''""^  '''«' 
brought  by  he  irl  f  "  "'  ^J^^""-'  'ere 
tiers."  Afffir    wet  a'nlr  !  T"'''"  ^«""^'   "^  -»- 

-ions  Of  ejectrtisrfhrjf  :•  ^"  '^« 

Kg  threo^h   it.  the  or--        ,  '«"""""»«  '»  the  .(,„»  pj^ 

P-on„„oi..i„„,  „.  cl..„;7rw„u  *t;  '"  "~"'""°'  -*  «» 


•>*.f-;g$^ 


H    I 


I 


if. 


148        E'lHAJS'  ALLEN  AND  GKEI:N-M0UNTA1in   HEE0E8. 

make  the  best  defense  in  their  jiower.  The  manage- 
ment of  the  business  was  intrusted  to  Ethi'u  Allen. 
Bold,  enterprisin*^,  ambitious,  and  having  extreme 
conlidence  in  his  powers,  both  of  body  and  mind, 
he  entered  zealously  upon  his  task.  IJis  aid  was 
rendered  the  more  valuable,  by  reason  of  his  exten- 
sive acquaintance  in  New  England  and  Kew  York. 
Although  laboring  under  the  disadvantages  of  a  de- 
fective irly  education,  he  possessed  considerable  gen- 
eral information,  anu  he  could  write  a  letter  ur  aL< 
argument  in  strong  and  intelligiWe,  if  not  accurate 
and  polished  language;  and  he  could  address  a  mul- 
titude, and,  when  occasion  required,  a  court,  with  skill 
and  effect.  Upon  his  selection  as  an  agent  to  defend 
the  suits  brought  against  the  settlers,  he  went  to  New 
Hampshire,  and  obtained  copies  of  Governor  Went- 
worth's  commission  and  instructions  from  the  kino*, 
under  which  he  had  acted  in  making  the  grants. 
He  next  proceeded  to  Connecticut,  and  engaged  the 
services  of  Mr.  Ingersoll,  an  eminent  counselor  of 
that  time.  In  June,  1770,  they  appeared  before  the 
court  ill  Albany.  An  action  of  ejectment  against 
Josiah  Carpenter,  of  Shaftsbury,  came  on  for  trial; 
and  the  defendant's  counsel  offered  in  evidence  the 
documents  above  mentioned,  together  with  the  char- 
ter of  the  township,  and  a  deed  of  the  land  in  ques- 
tion from  the  original  proprietor  to  the  defendant. 
This  evidence  was  rejected  by  the  court,  on  the 
ground  that  the  New-IIampshire  charters  were  illegal 
and  void,  and  the  jury  were  directed  to  find  a  ver- 
dict for  the  plaintiff'.  Two  other  actions  were  tried 
with  the  same  result.     As  all  the  cases  were  precisely 


■IllK  TKIALS  AT  AI.nANr. 


149 


liku  these,  tlieir  decision  was  re,^nrA..^ 

ft*  tl,e  residue  and  n„  /   t     °  '  » precedent 

were  m.de  in  I  "*"'  ""'^'"P'^  "*  "  defense 

interested     n   the  Z-v'T""'  ''^™""   ^^""«"'-' 
wa.theki„;sl,;;:;;':,^™^^^  <"■  ^"°'" 

npon  him,  and  nr^ed^-     !       *"  "'^ '^"'""y-called 
fi-ds  tn'.lT  biV:;^;,  --"d  advise  his 

new  landlords;  intin.a  LTa       I"       "'"■  """' 
desperate,  and   reminding    d,n  If  ""'  "°" 

".-•ght  often  prevails  agls    rtirt  "    1,^';,  """ 
plied:  "The  ^od,  „f  fi,       ,7    ^  ^"'"'  """"^  re- 

gods  of  the  valleys  are  not  the  gods  of  the 

•  In  1771),  Allen  published  a  wort   entitled  -A  V  j-    .• 
^■"■k.  and  of  their  riri,f  f„  t         ."""»"'  «»  tbe  governor  of  New 

1-  Mowing  ctanJeristiellt  of    °      t     f-    ^"""  "''  "*• 
year  1769,  the  elaimants  nndTZl  .    *  ''  ""'™  ^  "'"   "» 

-J  "o.  .«idi„g  on  .be  tt^re^rrirhr ""■"*• 

qeetment  in  the  supreme  eourt  held  at  aZ  *  '  '""'°"'  "' 

settle,,,  who  olaitne.!  the  soil  by  vil  '^"^•.'*''''''  '""""y  -'"»' 
Hampshire.  But  most,  if  not  all  a,  ,"d  ''f  °'  ^^''^  '""■  "o" 
M6s.,rs.  Dnane  and  Kemn      u  l    ^  ^^  "''  ''«™«.  Partieularly 

"uder  New  York     a^Js  mrorth'"™  f  ""'  '=°""'  ^^'»  ^"""'^ 

-»;  -a.,  ne  piaintiiTs: :,  T„':^::',t:°  *°-^'»'™'' 

n-liioh.  together  with  their  innt^    ,        FT  '"''  ""'«"ifi«>ncei 

P«"ance,.  but  -b.  defe,!!     ;    ;!  ,  ""tf  r/"''^  »  «"-'  ".> 
'.-.  .«.%  fatigued  by  h,a„  1:  wL^t"  ^  X*™'  ""'"^ 

" -ii;;™d  t  rrie™:;::;:^  "rr;  r^-^  - ■- 

•"-  -«.....  .ner^,  in  fa  j^it  r  :rrw  r /"'^'- 

givei!  againrst  them,"  ,tc.  '^"''^'  '''■» 


i    i 


160        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

hills ; "  and  when  asked  by  Kemp,  the  attorney-general, 
to  explain  his  meaning,  he  replied:  ''W  you  will  ac- 
company me  to  the  hill  of  Bennington,  the  sense  will 
be  made  clear." 

The  purpose  of  his  mission  being  thus  brought  to 
a  cli^se,  Mr.  Allen  returned  and  reported  the  pai^tic 
ulars  to  his  constituents.     The  news  spread  from  hab- 
itation  to  habitation,  and  created  a  sudden  and  loud 
murmur  of  discontent  among  the  people.     Seeing,  as 
they  thought,  the  door  of  justice  shut  against  them, 
and  having  tried,  in  vain,  all  the  peaceable  means 
of  securing  their  rights,  they  resolved   to  appeal  to 
the  last  arbiter  of  disputes.    The  inhabitants  of  Ben- 
nington  immediately  assembled,  and  came  to  a  for- 
mal determination  to  defend  their  property  by  force, 
and  to  unite  in  resisting  all  encroachments  upoir  the 
lands  occupied   by  persons  holding  titles  under  the 
warrants  gra-.ted  by  the  governor  of  JN^ew  Hampshire. 
This  was  a  bold   step;   but  it  was  promptly  taken, 
and  with  a  seeming  determination  to  adhere  to  it,' 
at  any  hazard,  and  without  regard  to  consequences! 
Nor  was  this  decision   changed   or  weakened   by  a 
proposition  en   the  part  of  the  New-York  patentees 
made  about  this  time,  which  allowed   to  each  occu- 
pant a  fee-simple  of  his  farm,  at  the  same  price  for 
which  the  unoccupied  lands  in  his  neighborhood  were 
sold.    The  first  purchasers  still  insisted  that  this  was 
requiring  them  to  pay  twice  for  their  lands  ;  and  that, 
m  any  view,  the  proposal  was  not  just,  inasmuch  »«' 
the  value  of  the  unoccupied  lands  depended  mainly 
on  the  settlements  which  had  been  made  in  their  vi- 
cmity,  by  the  toil,  and  at  the  expense,  of  the  original 


u*   iHJi  M0JNTAINEEE8.  l^J 

Actions  of  eieetml   .    .       T  '"""""^  P^°^'^^«- 

cess,  after  the  decision  of  fh    «'  '''"^""'"S  of  sue 
pear  in  defense  no  i  ""'  "'"^'  '^''^  "<"  «I>- 

conrse  of  ]aw  to  remove  t     P"^^''^^'™'  «■"!  by  dne 
At  this  crisis   the  r        ""'"P"""'  ''™'"  «'»'  l»ds. 

which  they  had  snbdued  b"  i/  ^'^  ''"^  ^"' 

the  territory  over  whi.h  i7    l.  ^'""''  '''^''  '" 

•    Bnpren,e  do.inL„:  "Ct ''^^"''  '".  ^«-'- 

committees,  and  taking  com  el  o  17^''°"'  '"^ 

lie  concerns     To  ^.-  ^'"'''  °""*''  on  pub- 

.t..eat!n  L^ ^itttrit^r '  ~f  '« 
alike  to  their  dearest  interested  to  th  -T'  *'"''" 
e-yman  deems  as  sac^  d  I  i  ^T  "'''^' 
wonder,  therefore,  that  they  sho^  ^^  in  T  '" 
mon  cause,  which  reamr./^h  •  T  ^  ^^^'^" 

ants,  and  thej  determined  on  renewed  J  .    .      "" 

tain  possession  ofthe  disputed  land  T,'  "'" 
of  the  Wallumschaik  patent  "Z  ^''V^^P"^'"''" 
to  survey  the  township  o'fTe LSo^t  !  ••"™"" 
v.ous  instances,  the  endeavor  Z        '       '      '°  I"''- 

surveyors  had  Lt  prooeld  fj ir™.:"""'-    '"'" 

J     c^etuLci  tai,  when  they  were  met 


w  i 


!■?'    ' 


152 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  JlEliOES. 


1 1. 

H 


by  a  body  of  twenty  or   thirty  of  the   settlers,  who 
warned  them  to  desist,  in  so  decided  a  tone,  that  they 
abandoned  the  undertaking.     This  was  in  September, 
1770.     Abraham  Ten  JJrook,  one  of  the   proprietors 
of  the  patent,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  the  other  pro- 
prietors, petitioned  the  governor  and  council  of  New 
I'ork  on  the  subject;  stating  '^that  the  proclamation 
which  the  governor  had  issued  on  the  11th  of  Decem- 
ber, 1761),  for  apprehending  rioters,  had  been  attended 
with  no  effect  — that  actions  of  ejectment  had   been 
tried  at  the  last  summer-assizes  at  Albany,  against  the 
settlers,  and  three  different  verdicts  obtained  against 
them,  and  that  another  detendant  had  made  default  — 
that  these  judgments  had  induced  the  petitioners  to 
believe  the  commissioners  might  proceed  unmolested  ; 
but  that  they  had   been  opposed   by  a  riotous  and 
tumultuous  body,  who  armed  themselves  with  clubs 
and   warned    them    to    desist  from    their    business;' 
threatenmg    them   with  violence,   &c.    The  petition 
also  stated   that  the  commissioners  did  not  think  it 
safe  to  proceed  further,  and  prayed  the  governor  and 
council  for  aid  and  relief  in  the  premises."    The  pe- 
tition was  taken  into  consideration,  and   in  October 
1770,  the  council  advised   the  governor  "to  issue  a 
proclamation  for  apprehending  Simeon  Hatheway,  Mo- 
ses Sco^t,  Jonathan  Fisk,  and   Silas   Eobinson,  prin- 
cipal  authors  and   actors  in  said   riot,  and  to  insert 
in  the  proclamation,  the  declaration  that  the  governor 
had   orders  from  the  king,  to  protect   the  New-York 
claimants  with  his  whole  power  and  authority  " 

At  this  period,  and  for  some  time  afterward,  one  of 
the  most  active  and  efficient  advocates  and  supporters 


LEGAL  PKOCKEDrNGS  RK,; rcwED.  ^^^^ 

and  by  his  boM?,  ,  dependents  about  him, 

\  y  nis  boldness  and  enemy  of  charnpf^v  .. 
troubJesom,-^  to  H,«  ^  cnaracter,  was  verj 

^  ^"'^  to  tlie  occupants  of  thp  lV"f.«r  tt  i  • 

o-mnts      Tn  <^l     ]•  ^^ew-llainsphire 

J'   -len  iL}ck,  sheriff  ot  the  countv  of  AIKo.,      • 
company  with  Munro  and  othe,.  J"1A„^?'  '" 
of  Silas  Robinson,  in  Bennington    a  ,    o'  I  "" 

oft).o  o.h  of  Kove^W,  and  ^^d    ^  1;^ 
«^|ek,n,  i,„„  nnexpectedly,  and  returning  ^uZZ 
A  l.a„y,  ti,e,  snceeedod  in  con=nntting'l,i„   tj 
jail,  before  any  attempt  could  be  madp  L  . 
bora  to  rescue  liim      Tl,„    k    -a  •'^  '"^  "«"g''- 

award  fsx:::ra?::;ar^^^ 

>a.l  for  his  appearance  at  court.    Cteen  oCrf '""' 
.n^i.eted  with  Robinson,  bnt  no  atterlT  ""™ 

arrest  them.  """?'  '^as  made  to 

^'•oni  the  time  judgments  were  rendered  in  M      •    , 
'iient  suits  at  Albany  in  tl,„     "^^O^'ed  mtheeject- 

eflbrts  were  mad  7' i, "h  Hff':™^°?''''  ^"'""^ 
possession  of  n  '"  P"'  "'«  P'aintiffs  in 

was  sure  to  be  met  bv T    T  ,  ^""^'•''^"  ''"  '>'™t.  lie 

a-on,nanied  1  ^    ^   ^^  ^"^"^  "'""  "'«*  which 

".parnod  h.m,  and  was  told  that  any  attempt  t. 


154       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GitEEN-MOUJS'TAIiN  HKKOI<». 


i  i'a 


I- 

h  ' 

1.;' 


■   I 


t^  I :    ' 


execute  a  writ  of  possession  would  certainly  be  resisted 
by  force.  These  facts  being  reported  tc  tiie  governor, 
he  directed  them  to  summon  the  militia  of  the  county 
to  his  aid.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and  in  July, 
1771,  an  attempt  was  made  to  arrest  James  Bracken- 
ridge.  The  following  account  of  this  expedition  is 
from  Ira  Allen's  Hist-^ry  of  Vermont :  * 

"The  sherijQf  of  Albany  county  summoned  the  posse 
to  aid  him  in  serving  a  writ  of  possession  upon  James 
Brackenridge.     The  sheriff  was  followed  by  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  well  armed,  and  three  hundred  set- 
tlers assembled   to  resist  him.     The  settlers  had  full 
notice  of  his  approach,  and  had  completed  their  ar- 
rangements for  defence.     An  officer  with  eighteen  men 
was  placed  in  the  house  —  one  hundred  and    twenty 
behind  trees  in  a  wood  near  a  road  through  which  the 
sheriff  must  march  and  would  naturally  halt  his  men! 
The  other  division  was   stationed    behind  a  ridge  of 
land  in  a  meadow,  within  gunshot  of  the  house,  and 
out  of  sight  of  the  sheriff''8  men.     Thus  an  ambuscade 
was  formed  to  have  a  crossfire  on  the  sheriff's  men 
without    endangering    themselves,  and    to    be   ready 
against  the  sheriff  forced  the  door,  which  was  to  be 
known  by  hoisting  a  red   flag   above  the  top  of  the 
chimney.     When  the  sheriff  approached,  all  were  si- 
lent:   he   and   his   men  were   completely  within   the 
ambuscade  before  they  discovered  their  situation.    Mr. 
Ten  Eyck,  the  sheriff,  went  to  the  house  and  demanded 
entrance  as  the  sheriff  of  Albany  county,  and  threat- 
ened on  refusal  to  force  the  door.     The  answer  was 
'  Attempt  it  and  you  are  dead  men.'     He  repeated  his 
demand  and  threat  without  using  any  force,  &  received 
tor  a  second  answer  hideous  groans  from  within!     At 
this  time  the  two  divisions  exhibited  their  hats  on  the 
points  of  their  guns,  which  appeared  to  be  more  nu- 
merous than  they  really  were.     The  sheriff"  and  his 

*  This  is  a.  small  work,  published  by  Alleo  in  London,  in  I7i)S.     It  is 
now  laioly  to  be  jnet  with, 


DEFENSIVE  MEASURES.  ^^^ 

musket  was  not  iireS  o"  dthor  sid^  ^n  I  •  T"''  *"  """  » 

faction  to  and  cemented  the  union  S-H-'',  ^f.™  ^"'i'^- 

raised  their  consenuoueo  in  thTn»^  L^"-  '"'"''"'ants,  & 

Althou<.h  the  nL  V    r  7   '""^'''^"'•"'g  provinccl" 

their  attei  s  0  e";  te-th:"""'^  ''"  ''"''  '""^^  '» 
did  not  abandon  th  ,""  "'P"'^*'"".  ""y 
their  claims  bvoH       "'  '^•'"^™"""i°n  to  substantiate 

of  Ai  oTco':!  "rr" ''""'"«"''"  '""-"•^^- 

P'sh  their  object  by  less  direc  means  n'l""" 
tice  of  indictment  for  riots   waTw  P''™" 

favorable  offers  of  titles  under  NeXr"'"'  '"' 
to  prominent  individuals  resfdl^frthe^nror'^ 
were  conferred  on  others ;  and  p:rsons  rfm  ^I;  S 

By  these  means  it  was  honed.  ^'  "^  ^^'^'npshire. 
amon,  the  peopio^^rK  ~  1^^  -"'^ 
strengthened  as  to  secure  its  predonLt  f  """' 
eftectually  to  resist  these  move    onTof  7^      ^^'^ 

the  mw-Hamp  hiltr  ; SitTT"  "^  ^'""'  ^™'" 
committee  of  rafety;  and  ;r;:l  ^"'"'"'r  "'  "'« 
made,  or  settlement  attemnted  b  T  '^°"^^  ''' 

Yor,  u  ,„,  portion'rre^eXti  Z„f  : 
dispute  between  Kew  York  and  ^t..„  t/  ^'f  !"'^"7  ^^ 


id  IVew  Hampstire.    i 


OP 


J  f  I  ■ 


fijl 


i  1 

I 

i 

f 

! 

..1    <■' 

1           ''■;': 

„ 

i'''\  J 


15«J        KTJIAN  ALLKN  AND  OKEKN-MOLNTArA   HEKOLS. 

a  violation  of  this  law,  the  offoiider  was  to  bo  punished 
according  to  the  jud^niont  of  the  corninittees  of  safeU^, 
or  "the  ideas  of  the  people."     Nevertiieless,  the  civil 
oiHcers  of  Now  York  were  to  be  allowed  the  exercise 
of  their  proper  functions  in  the  collection  of  debts,  and 
also  in  other  matters  not  connected  with  the  controversy 
in  regard  to  hinds.    That  a  force  might  be  ready  to  act 
in  any  emergency,  a  military  association  was  formed, 
of  which   Ethan  Allen  was   appointed   commandant, 
with  the  title  of  colonel,  and  Seth  Warner,  Kemember 
Baker,  Robert   Cockrane,  Gideon  Warner,  and  some 
others  were  appointed  captains.    The  men  were  arjned, 
and    occasionally   met   for  military   exercise.      John 
Munro,  in  a  letter  to  Governor  Tryon,  stated  that  "the 
rioters  had  established  a  company  at  Bennington,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Warner— and  that  on  Kew  Year's 
day  (1772)  his  company  was  reviewed  and  continued 
all  day  in  military  exercise  and  firing  at  marks." 

In  pursuance  of  the  policy  heretofore  mentioned,  the 
grantees  made  attempts  to  establish  settlements  on  the 
western  borders  of  the  grants.      Whenever  this  was 
done,  Ethan  Allen,  at  the  head  of  a  detachment  of  the 
"Green-Mountain  Boys,"  as  the  men  under  his  com- 
mand  were  called,  promptly  met  the   intruders  and 
'irove  them  off.    The  Kew-York  sheriffs  continued  to 
be  pursued  with  unremitting  eagerness,  whenever  they 
dared  to  set  their  feet  on  the  forbidden  ground.     With 
these  various  affairs  on  his  hands,  it  will  readily  be 
innigined  that  the  commander  of  the  Green-Mountain 
Boys  was  not  idle ;  nor  was  it  surprising  that  he  should 
attract  the  particular  notice  of  the  New- York  govern- 
ment.   So,  many  complaints  were  made  of  the  riotous 


I; 
;    1;. 


AU.KNS  ri!0€l,AMATrON.  ,5^ 

"'"'  ''••""'■''"•I;'  procco,ll„.«  of  his  vol 

8"«iate«;  audi  was  tl,..  Ini-       "'"^"'""t''"™  and  ns- 

"Pon  tiieir  property  •  .,n,l  »    ^^^f""'  "'  tres,,n6s.r8 

-"';   aeco„„.ecl   t,,e,„   allir,:  rl',  "'^*'  ""P- 
«">«  tomptod  to  trj  the  virtue  ot  .n  ^""•■'■""'' 

i'ork  settlor  with  the  In    >  ^'^P"«'*^»»!"g  a  New- 

.  "«7'a-ardo"::  ;~r^^ 

would  apprehend  and  seeureAlIen         ^,'''''°°  ^'"' 
o- persons  eonneetedwi;:^:-::-^^^^^^^^^^^ 

'-;to?:irr:tr  "T-f  -  -"^  ■•- 

e-rmit^  of  the  offense  ,"  7'T  '""^'^  '"  "'" 
another  was  proniul,.,  o  l  7  ""^' '"  '^"''"''''  l»" 
Allen  to  one  ifundr  F  ^  '  m"''""'  "'^  ''«"'"^  *» 
Warner  and  five  others    o«ft     '"""'''' ""''  *'"'  Se'l- 

^-;e  outdone  h,  the  i;;?^^^^'-    ^^^ 
he  prerogatives  of  sovereil^nty  cl„e  V,   ""?'"^ 
tnends   sent   out   a  mnnf^         '"""nel  Allen  and  iiis 

counter-proclamation  *  offering  a 

-bed  .he  p„b,io  Peaoe  and  Rol  IfTr  °°''  ""°""  ««''^  *- 
■on  and  the  «l,k„,e„„  ,„  ^^  ^l"*  °f  *«  '■°"«l  Peimnl,  of  Bennin,. 
«ve,L,,«  been  in  .be  Peaee  o";*!!**  P-"« -,„„.,., J, 
li«ge  8„bject,  of  George  the  Third      i  ^*'  ""'  ""  l'"'"«""  «nd 

those  common  dishnbere,  viz  J.™„";   ^^  ^T"  """  "'"  "PP'*"".! 
ttem  .0  landlord  Fay,  a   Be  ,„  r.:,,","",!";'' '''"'"  ^'™P«.  "'  bring 
I'-ne,  and  £,„  for  John  Ke^;"^    '       '™'^"  '^■™'"  '"'^^^ 
Dated  at  Poultney.  Feb.  5th  ,772  ^^---kuTa'k.h 

KOBKRT  CoCKRA.vjj.' 


158 


KTilAN  ALLRN  AND  OliEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEHOKS. 


(Iff 


reward  for  the  apprehension  of  tlio  persons  who  had 
become  most  obnoxious  to  th-  inhubitantH  of  the  New- 
Hampshire   Grants.     Notwithrttandin^^  the  frecjuency 
of  prochimations,  it   is  believed   that  no  porsoi.  was 
apprehended  in  consequence  of  them,  which  is  a  proof 
that  the  jieople  of  the  parts  of  New  York  adjoininjr 
the  New-Hampshire   tyrants   were  more   favorable  to 
the  settlers  than  were  prominent  men  of  the  colony ; 
otherwise,  the  allurement  of  the  reward  would  have 
induced  combinations  for  seizint^  individual  offenders, 
particularly  as   the  people  were   required   by  law  to 
assist  the  sheriff  in  the  execution  of  his  office.     Allen 
never   denied   that   the   conduct   of  himself  and   his 
mountaineers,  interpreted  by  the  laws  of  New  York, 
or  the  laws  of  any  well-ordered  society,  was  properly 
called  riotous  ;  but  he  contended  that  they  were  driven 
to  this  extremity  by  the  oppression  of  their  stronger 
neighbors  ;  that  no  other  means  were  left  by  which  they 
coulcf  defend  their  property  ;  and  that,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, they  were  perfectly  justified  in  resorting  to 
these  means.     They  encroached  not  upon  the  posses- 
sions of  other  people  ;  they  remained  on  their  own  soil ; 
and,  if  riots  existed,  they  were  caused  by  those  who 
came  among  them  for  molestation  and  injury.     View- 
ing things  in  this  light,  he  thought  it  hard,  and  with 
reason,  that  he  should  first  be  called  a  rioter,  then  a 
criminal  rioter,  and  last  of  all  be  denounced   to  the 
world  as  a  felon,  witn  a  price  set  upon  his  liberty,  and 
threats  of  condign  punishment  if  he  should  be  taken.* 
.  But  Allen,  who  was  brave  even  to  rashness,  waa  in 
no  degree  intimidated  by  the  reward  offered  for  his 

•  See  Sparks'  Life  of  Ethan  Allen. 


MARINO  OF  COLONKr.  Ar.f.RV.  j^g 

appreliension,  and  tliis  lio  rh.  ;        j    . 

--ety  was  m  ,y    ;Z     '.'"^  "■"'':'■'"'"<'•    Much 

"'v  "I'liortumtius  which   liia  ;.,.i,-a- 
'i-nger  afforded  for  arre»ti„      ,    ,  '";"''ff;'"^"-«  to 
'»"K'.od  at  their  foars,  and  offered  i  li  ""'  "'"'""■' 
I"-oceert  to  Albany  ali„ht  at  M  '  ''*  "'""'" 

«»■  eneertai„n,ent   dlf  '""''  '"■"■"'"^t  hou«e 

-cape  unha™    '  'j  '  "w  "''  """•"'•  """  «-"/ 

thenece.aryarrln.iirirr-  /:""^'  "-'« 
and,  .rter  deiiher^el,  a%M  J^t  r'^"'' 
entering  the  house  witi,  „  i       ,  *  '""^*''  «"<! 

bowl  of'punch  aceo,. r      .     ^^'^  "'''  ™"«<'   ^r  a 
intelh>en'ce   L  '^     :^V'*^  '^""^  «''  "«  ^<^'-    The 

-Pi<iiy,  and  r  lar  e:,l^r„r''''f^'"^'^-'' 
around   the  house   L<,  '""P"''  <=»"«'«'l 

Alban.count,   1,"      ;:7   ^^  "'e  sheriff  „f 

Mountains,"7ep:rted         ''    ^"'''   '"'  '''^  «-™ 
'Hsposed  t;  arrl  U  1     J—     ^^  ^^  -e 

no.  be  „naeco,np...,,ied  w,:!,  itf  '""'"'""'  '^""'^ 
^a.e  Cha,„p,ai n,  .^^0^X7  't:^^^  f 

diersijeirniii:rt:r;;r;r"r-^"'- 

at  the  iiouse  wffl,  fj,     •  .      .'"^^^'  ^"^'>  irmed,  were 

tbe  ..ight.  iCn  riCt  ;"d:;  '"^r'  '-'"^ 

11  ard  nl.fo-   •  '       "^  determined  on  arrest- 

n,  ana  obtainino- the  fpniT-,f;«  , 

'         tempting  reward  offerprl  K„ 
vernnient  of  Kew  Y'ort  f      i  •  - 

^  i:oik  tor  }i,8  apprehensioii. 


ing 
the 


100 


ETHAN  AJJJiN  AND  GlJEKN-MOU.NTAliN   ilEKovp. 


m 


j.  1 

ll         1 

llhlJ 


Mrs.  liichurds  overheard  their  coiiversutioD,  and  when 
lighting  Allen  and  his  cojnpanion  to  their  room,  in- 
formed  them  of  the  design  of  the  soldiers;  and  silently 
raising  a  window,  advised  tliem  to  escape.  When  the 
soldiers  discovered  that  Allen  had  left  the  iiouse,  tliey 
threatened  Mrs.  Eichards  with  punishment,  for  con- 
niving at  the  escape  of  the  heroic  leader  of  the  Green- 
Mountain  Boys ;  but  she  apologized,  on  the  ground 
that  if  she  had  failed  to  do  so,  the  people  would  have 
torn  down  her  house,  and  driven  herself  and  family 
from  I  oir  possessions. 

John  Munro,  who  has  been  heretofore  mentioned  as 
an  active  and  determined  partisan  of  New  York,  in 
the  iiope  of  receiving  the  reward  offered  by  Governor 
Tryon,  and  to  enjoy  the  honor  which  would  attend  the 
success  of  such  an  undertaking,  resolved  on  capturing 
and  carrying  to  Albany  one  of  the  persons  who  had 
been  outlawed  by  the  proclamation.     He  accordingly 
assembled  ten  or  twelve  of  his  friends  and  dependents, 
and,  on  the  morning  of  March  22d,  1772,  before  day- 
light, surrounded  the  house  of  Remember  Eaker,  of 
Arlington,  for  the  purpose  of  arresting  him.     Armed 
with  swords  and  pistols,  they  burst  open  the  door  and 
entered  the  house.     Baker  was  severely  wounded  upon 
the  head  and  arm  by  a  sword.     His  wife,  and  a  sod 
about  twelve  years  of  age,  were  also  treated  with  great 
inhumanity,  the  one  being  wounded  upon  the  head  and 
neck  by  the  blow  of  a  sword,  and  the  other  receiving 
a  dangerous  cut   upon  his  arm.     Baker,  being   over- 
powered by  numbers,  was  bound,  thrown  bleeding  into 
a  sleigh,  and  driven  rapidly  toward  Albany.    The  alarm 
was  spread  with  groat  rapidity,  and  in  a  shoit  time  ten 


liEMEMBER  BAKER,  .^, 

tions  could  bo  m.do  i, ,  ?    T' ''  '^'""^"^  "^  P'-^l""-^- 
the  party  in  p„,3„ij  „,^^  "-d  to  Hudson  nver, 

»d    '■•■«  party  abandoned    ,bei,  ''"^-     *^™™ 

Captain  Bate-   wl.n  ,  '"■"°"<'''  «'"1  Aod. 

of  blood,  ne  d'ed  t  ,eT  "V'  "'""'"^^^  *™-  >- 
'«'*  to  Lis  family   ,,.  .,        !        '  '"""  "'"'"'"^  ''"r- 

-.nunity.  Mi  nt:*::;?^.''^  "'--'- 

to  the  governor  of  nU  Y„!,    '  '  ""'  '^^^^^'^on 

^t  Baker's  bo„«e  as  a  verl  dl^'  ''^'''"■"'^  '^e  conflict 
'•"d  reason  to  be  tbanktt  It  ?  •'■'"'  '""''  ""''  ^'"'^'  "''« 
I'-servation  of  b       fe  i^  ^  -- /''ovidence,  for  tbe 

A"  -onnt  of  tbe  sc   t:  ,.   f ;; '^«  -'><"«  Part,." 

f  Et!..an  Allen,  was  ;ubl  1T  n  tl"  r     "^'°°'^' 
Cou.-ant,ofJune9,1772  „,>',  ^onnecticnt 

follo«-inff  contains  .  /  """'%'  ''"«••  "Tbe 

-d  Family,  on  the  /sfdj^^  f "T '"^  ^'^« 
«'  ''is  own  dwelling-house  Tn  A  t  '  ^^  ^^  ^^^'' 
'ands  granted  by  his  h  1  F  n  ''^'""'  '"'^  ™  "'« 
»■»'■"',  Esq    late  r  ^•™«"''"<^y  Benning  Went- 

jrampsbbe-i         "'"™'-  "'  ""^  P'-'ince  :f  Kew 

-"ofviiS^ii'^rt'iirj.irV'r''''''--'"''-'---, 

«">nm,tt«l,  and  carried  into  'i'V"'"',  !«"'Potrated 
M,n,r„,  a  reputed  Justice  "fH,„P  """','•  ''•>'  ™«  J<>l'n 
place,  Mitb  a  number  of  ruffi'.^P'-''''   "•,",'S  "oar  that 

"■-nblishe,!  «,-4„„„,.  """Jnctal  R,„e„.M„u„i„i„  B„y,,  i. 


1  '.! 


'    'I 

'l  I 


i 


162        ETHAN  AIXEN  AND  GlCKKW-AlOUNrAIN  IfEROES. 

after  a  Lords  day  consultation  in  plotting  this  wicked 
and  horrid  design,  surprised  the  said  Baker  in  his  said 
dwehing-house,  about  the  first  appearance  of  morning 
li^rht,  on  the  said  22d  day  of  March,  and,  after  making 
an  attempt   to  discharge  their  fire-arms   throu<^h  the 
said  Baker's  house,  and  finding  their  fire-arms  missing 
fire,  said  Munro  with   liis  attendants,  did  with   axes 
forcibly  break  and  enter  the  said  Baker's  house,  and 
with  weapons  of  death,  spread  destruction  round  the 
room,  cutting  with  swords  and  bruising  with  fire-arms 
and  clubs  men  women  and  children,  swearing  by  — -^ 
he  would  have  Baker  dead  or  alive,  and  that  he  would 
burn  the  house.  Baker  Wife  &  Children  and  all  the 
effects,  and  to  compass  and  bring  this  villainous  scheme 
into  execution,  did  with  his  own  wicked  and  rebellious 
hand  convey  fire  from  the  hearth  in  the  said  house  to 
a  cupboard  in  the  room,  it  being  the  most  convenient 
place  to  answer  his  intentions,  wlien  all  on  a  sudden, 
as  quick  as  a  flash,  a  Judas  spirit,  that  of  gain  and 
plunder,  overballanced  his  wicked  nodd]<3.     This  beino- 
agreed  oil,  he  instantly  thrust  his  sword  at  Mrs.  JBaker 
with  an  intention  to  have  ended  at  that  instant  her  life 
(as  he  has  since  confessed)  when  her  right  arm,  near 
her  elbow  joint,  for  that  time,  happily  preserved  her 
from  the  intended  murder.     Others,  in  the  mean  time, 
his  attendants,  were  mauling  and  beating  and  bruising 
his  children.     Mr.  Baker,  having  at  that  time  posted 
himself  in  his  Chamber  for  the  better  security  of  him- 
self, family  and  effects,  finding  their  malice  oaths  and 
imprecations  principally  levelled  at  his  person,  thought 
most  proper  to  leave  his  chamber,  thinking  thereby  to 
draw  the  murderers  after  him  and  so  give  his  family 
in  their  wounded  circumstances  a  better  opportunity 
to  save  themselves  from  impending  ruin  and  utter  de- 
struction, accordingly  burst  a  board  from  the  ^.ible  end 
of  the  liouse  and  leaped  out  of  the  windoAv  he  had  by 
that   means  made,  when  part  of  the  ruffians,  by  the 

•  Wherever  oaths  occur  in  the  original  narrative  n'  the  assault  upon 
Mr.  Baker,  as  well  as  other  d  )cunients  republished  in  those  pages,  tUeif 
place  will  be  supplied  with  a  dash. 


bemj<:aibek  bakkr. 

iim  he  is  dead)  to  Jt  o '  hL  '"°'<-''''''^<'l^  ^ 
and  very  "aliJous  dofed  cat'Jr''^'  fPitefurwilful 
agreeable  to  their  owu  ftms  and  .  ?''  '"'''"S'"  "P 
Lie  those  other  servants  oTth» /•',''""'  '''"'  being 
^hedience,  seized  thetairl  tL,  '*"'',''  "'  'l^at  time  all 
JO'uM  by  those  his  tneTpartt';.!;'  f''  'i"'"^  '-"^ten^" 
"m  so  feet  that  he  was  inab  .  f  '  """''  '""^  pinioned 
least  resistance   in   deCt     t-  ,  "'"  °''  '""ke  even  the 

wounded  wife,  or  his  p„*or  tbi^"^?''";  '"«   ""''"ppy 
,    "And  not  being  LCtil,-'l?j '''''''•««««d  cln'ldrin 

lawful  proceedings  and^?l,  •11*^"''  """'  "'eir  own  ,m' 
^luench'ed,  the  beK  enSce? '  '"''  '"»"''  "»'  ^e  "L" 
cnme  and  procure  a  fell  dralt  '7"'"  ^'"''•^  ''"•'rif 
qnench  their  nnnatnral  th  r^^^did'  ^""""^  """d,  to 
-Baker  to  the  carriage  in  whW,  t  ^^'T^  ""«  ^a'd 
i»B  confined  state,  tfe  sIm   Tnl      l'-7  '''"^'' '  ^here  in 

ants  Tomahawk,  .Jut  and  siafh^^  f ".'"'',''  ^''^  ""end 
might  see  a  life  languish  mTh  a^*^'  """  "'eir  eves 
blood  while  they  dirwith  a  i^  '^'^'''^"^  '"  ^'treams^of 

the  vU'e'V:lit  S— ^f  rT'  ""»-'  on 
and  great  eifusion  of  bloo"  saM  t  */"  ^''"''''''  ^nte, 
according  to  his  strength  caledf^K-'" 'T'"'  ^  ''«ice 
was  yet  naked  from  his'  bed  S  t  \'^  *;'",""'«  «  he 
the  eaid  Justice,  which  S.  *?  '•^■""d  «iem  bv 

naked  sword  ovct  sai<l  R^  '  ™?'  ''''<'''<'«  with  hi^ 
and  breaking  °he  same  ,^h'  ""^^"^  ''"<'«  and  eye  ' 
this  retiectio'n,  tlmt  "   :il^''««,P'««<f  and  gaveTh^ 

him   as  a  — ,  .__  ,   ~  n™  he  would   cloath 

threats,  gave  them  a  new  si,?' L "J'"''  ftrmvating 
venge—ThnsthevcontnTprf  ?•"•"""'■  beloved  r^ 
ney,  for  the  space  rffo,"  if  J"^'"  '"'''  ""ked  jo.'r- 
erue   words,  a^nd  hard  b  ow  Ttoml"  r"\*''"'  """7 


I., 


16*4:        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREFN-MOONTATN  HEROES. 


II     ■; 
Is    1 

[*■  \ 


I 


'r  it 


ir  I 


ii 


worthy  tlieir  present  atfrightod  notice ;  althoug-h  tliey 
would  in  probability  have  been  more  faithful  in  the 
prosecution  of  self  and  worWly  gain,  had    not   they 
have  feared  a  surprise  in  so  unchristian  an  act. —  They 
pursued    their  journey  with   severe  words  and  cruel 
threats  as  though  resolved   to  take  a  full  swing  and 
make  an  ample  feast  of  human  cruelty,  until  pursued 
by  three  persons   loyal    and    tiiithful    subjects   to  the 
Crown  of  Great  Britain,  whose  banner  tlm'y  mean  ever 
more  to  live  and  die  under,  and,  after  in(|uiring  fur  the 
j)resorvation  of  the  life  of  said  Baker,  were  immediately 
tired  on  by  several  of  Munro's  party  and  robbed  of 
wliat  interest  he  had  with  him,  to  the  value  of  forty 
dollars,  as  a  fresh  sip  and  recruit  to  their  hellish  de- 
mand.    These  distressing  tidings  being  soon  spread  on 
the  premises,  enhanced  the  innocent  inhabitants,  and 
for  the  preservation  of  Baker  his  family  &  their  own 
persons,  families  and  effects,  some  of  them  did  pursue 
the  said  carriage  about   thirty  miles,  and  when  said 
John  with  his  attendants,  being  savage  like,  conscience 
struck  and  condenmed,  run  and  hid  themselves  so  pri- 
vate that  it  is  not  known  by  his  or  their  acquaintances 
where  they  have  been  ever  since  ;   leaving   the   said 
Baker  with  very  little  remains  of  life,  unable  to  tight 
for  liimself,  who  willingly  in  his  capacity  accepted  of 
mercy,  which  he  had  been  so  long  a  stranger  to. 

"  The  foregoing  contains  but  'a  very  short,  though 
true  account  of  the  barbarous  conduct  of  the  said  John 
towai'ds  the  said  Baker  and  family,  and  such  conduct 
exercised  by  a  pretended  civil  magistrate,  or  such  a 
magistrate  rather  must  be  dishonorable,  a  reproach, 
shame,  disgrace  &c.  on  the  laws,  restrictions,  regula- 
tions, peace,  manners,  good  order  and  economy,  both 
of  the  Laws  of  God  and  Man.  The  above  and  much 
more  can  be  attested  with  good  authority,  as  many 
worthy  persons  were  eye  witnesses  of  the  said  tragedy. 
The  robbery  has  since  been  confessed  by  the  said  Justice 
and  he  has  promised  to  make  amends." 

But  to  return  to  the  spring  of  17" 2.  The  attack 
upon  Captain  Baker,  as  might  have  been  anticipated. 


Itii    'I   ! 


AT 


'■"•'-i'T  To  AKRi.JHT  VV 


AliXKit. 


1()5 


Seth  Warn  r.    Tl,e   atter   w>      '"  '"  ""'"'  ^'"'*"" 

dence.    Munro,  with  sevoml  17,  •    f  '■""  ''*'''- 

'!>«.«,  and  entered  inl  '  dependents,  met 

tho.s«  prcent  :«  aid  -,74":  L  "^^^  ""'  "°'"™»^^^ 

tf.e  head  wUh  h L  e^M  '  '"    ""'''' ''"''''  '"'"  o^- 

"itii  His  cutlass  so  nowerfullv  th^t  I,,,  f  it  . 

tlie  ground  insensible     Tl,<.        .  .  ***"  '" 

this  encr<.etic  aot^nn  7  '^'"'^^^'"■''  "'"midated  by 
Warner  rl^TC  ; ^  ^^'-I','  ^  i»-*e ;  an^ 
■•eceived  no  permrel  !■  ■""'^^'■•"■■™-    Munro 

ffe  wrote  t^  r;™!  ^'l::' ^''"':'^  ^^^°^-''- 

di-nal  aceount  of  Estate  of    ^''''-^'""^  "  "''^' 
stating  amon..  ntV    ^,  "'^""^  '"  '''«  ^i^^inity ; 

y  among  other  tinngs,  that  the  "rioter.  "  l,v  ti,  • 
number  and  boldness,  were  "stril       7     '   ^     ""■ 
whole  conntrv-that  ZZ  °^  *"'''"  '"'»  "■« 

"-,  as  he'eouS   notfl?;  I"  '  r'""'  '^"  "^ 
officer  that  wonid         7  ""»'"  «">gi8t'-ate  or 

^-  ^^.e  most  Vigorous^:::  2'  trdiSsn";""' 

I-operty,  would  save  it  from  destruetll "        "  "'  ""' 

who  should  attemotl  o  7  7    T'  '"''^  P^''^"" 

New-Yort  elaSs     ZnTZ  f   ."''""'  °''  '"^ 

■    were  In^hlv  e.,..„..l.  "         '''^'"^'  °'  "'^  P^"" 


pl 


10  bee 


n  naiTuted,  iutt^IJi 


ich 


!-^enco  reached  Benniriirton 


1H6        KTITAN  ALLEN  AND  ORKKN-MoHNTALV   IlRieOEfl, 


hi 


H 


■r        .  r  :l 


h  ■  .1      ' 


I 


that  (iuvernor  Tryon  was  ascondincr  the  Iliideon,  with 
u  body  of  liritisli  troops,  wlio  were  on  tlio  way  to  sub- 
duo  the  retractory  Greun-Mountain  Boys.     This  news 
was  the  more  reii  lily  credited,  as  tlie  royal  troops  had 
i-ceontly  been  employed  at  "JJatemau's  Tatent,"  in  the 
colony  of  New  York,  to  quell  an  insurrection  founded 
ttn  a  dispute  in  regard  to  the  title  or  rents  of  lands ; 
and  it  was  also  known  that  the  New- York  claimants  to 
the  New-ilampshire  Grants,  had  applied  to  the  gover- 
nor to  send  the  troops  of  the  regular  army  against  the 
Green-Mountain  J^oys.     The  report  of  the  approach  of 
Governor  Tryon  at  first  produced   alarm.     The  com- 
mittees of  safety,  with  the  military  officers,  mot  in  con- 
vention, to  consult  on  the  measures  proper  to  be  'aken. 
Their  perilous  situation  was  anxiously  discusseu,  and 
on  full  consideration  it  was  linally  resolved,  that  "  it 
was    their  duty  to  oppose  Governor  Tryon   and    his 
troops  to  the  utmost  of  tiieir  power."    This  resolution 
being  taken,  every  practical  measure  was  adopted  to 
make  their  resistatice  effectual.     Two  pieces  of  cannon 
and    a  mortar  were  procured  from  Fort   Iloosic  and 
taken  to  Bennington,  and  a  general  rally  of  all  persons 
capable  of  bearing  arms  was  instituted.     A  plan  of  op- 
erations was  devised,  by  which  a  few  sharp-shooters 
were  to  be  stationed   in   a  narrow  pass  on   the  road 
leading  from  Albany  to  Bennington,  who  were  to  re- 
main in  concealment,,  and  shoot  down  the  officers  as 
they  approached  with  their  troops.    The  same  marks- 
men were  then  to  return  through  the  woods,  and  join 
another  party  of  their  comrades  in  a  similar  position, 
where  they  were  to  exercise   their  unerring  skill   in 
the  use  of  the  rifle,  and,  when  they  could  no  longer 


I  r:- 


RKNKWKn  NEOOTTArjONa.  J,,- 

>™i"tHfn  tl,,.ir  ,,„siti,,,,,  ,,f,,„,  ,    .,  .    , 

would  be  iM-ca  •,.<!  u  V    "'«  """"  ''"Jy,  who 

patched    t„   A,|,,,„^       .7-.    ^ ''™'7  person  was  dis- 
'"■'•■>■■"   of  GoveZ:  r  nr'  :""""^   '"   "*""   "'« 

»'-'<i  be  able  i„      C  ,:;f  *"^  r«<="'ars  as   he 

tl.o  time  of  march;,,"        ,"      '  °'™'"""  °*'  "'«  encny, 
ii,d,ciii„g,  and  the  r  intendorl  „ 

The  messenger  returned  with  the  Tl  .""'^«'"«"te- 

fat  the  t,-oops  were  bounT  for  T        ,'"""'  '"'"™»««». 

J'oi'-t,  and    that  they  Tad  "        ^  ""*^'"'"'' C™^" 

toward  Be„„i„„ton      AM        , "'""""  "*'  '""ching 

'0  the  test,  their  prompt  a  d    L    ''        *^  ""''  ^"'"^ 
o-set  were  a  pledge  fiLf.n  n       P''''P™«'°"'«  'or  the 
^-•'-•-ted  in  the,>  d      o„o .    ^r  •""  """"  ''  ""^    ' 
of  foops  stationed  witi™    h.         "'"''"''''^  "'""^'^ 
-"W  Imve  no  other  eft  c    ban  t""  T""'"""^  ^'--'^. 
Prehensions  as  to  the  ult  ma  IV  .•""""*''"  ""'''  "P" 
of  New  York.  ■'"*  '^''^'S™  »f  the  governor 

"or  of  New  York  i^  1  T'  'T  '•'''"''<^*'  «■«  go.er- 
~  -dividna',  iTn  r  ""'""'' ''"'  "'-*-'" 
l-).ased  their  lands  from  C  ^1"^  f  """"^  ^<'- 
anmiosity  of  their  nei»hhor«    ^  ^"''^'''ad  excited  the 

fl««  to  Albany,  during  tt  '""""^  "  '^""^'""  »o 

e<-nor  Tryon      Tl,  L  ^         Preparations  to  resist  Gov- 

^etermi,rspi,?  ,2'f r-  ^™"'  '"«  --''-  and 
ti-eirappreheL-:!:.!    i:!"!^^'  ^  --^'-'ed  during 

-r  an  mvas.n,  scans  to  have  been 


i 


m 
L 


lo8        KllIAM  ALLEN  AND  OUEKN-MOUNTAI^  IIEKUES. 


|i    ■' 


r   w 


' 


:ti. 


i     !i 


■* 


=  -If.'- 

i^ 

1 

. 

1 

1 
J 

■[f 

i  \' 

impressed  with  the  difficulty  of  subduing  them  by  lurce, 
and  to  have  come  to  tiie  determination  of  trvino-  what 
could    be  done  by  negotiation.     lie  accordingly  pre- 
pared a  letter,  addressed  to  the  Kev.  Mr.  Dewey  and 
other  principal  inhabitants  of  Bennington,  in  which,  af 
ter  censuring  the  illegality  of  their  conduct,  he  expressed 
a  strong  desire  to  do  them  justice,  and  invited  them  to 
send  a  deputation  of  such  persons  as  they  might  choose, 
to  lay  before  him  a  full  statement  of  their  grievances, 
and  the  reasons  for  their  resistance  to  his  authority. 
"That  there  may  be  no  obstruction,"  continued  the  gov- 
ernor, "to  your  laying  before  me,  in  council,  as  soon  as 
possible,  a  fair  representation  of  your  conduct,  I  do 
hereby  engage  full  security  and  protection  to  any  per- 
sons whom  you  shall  choose  to  send  on  this  business 
to  New  York,  from  the  time  they  leave  their  homes  to 
the  time  of  their  return,  except  Eobert  Cockrane,  as 
also  Allen,  Baker  and  Sevil,  mentioned  in  my  procla- 
mation of  the  10th  of  December  last,  and  Seth  Warner, 
whose  audacious   behavior  to  a  civil   magistrate   has 
subjected   him   to   the   penalties   of  the   laws   of  his 
country." 

This  letter  was  duly  delivered  to  the  occupants  of 
the  New-Hampshire  Grants  by  the  sheriff  of  Albany 
county.  On  receiving  this  invitation  to  negotiate,  the 
people  of  Bennington  and  the  neighboring  towns  as- 
sembled by  their  committees,  took  the  subject  into  con- 
sideration, and  promptly  acceded  to  the  proposal.  They 
returned  a  firm  and  respectful  answer  to  Governor 
Tryon,  detailing  the  oppressions  which  they  had  suf- 
fered, and  urging  him  to  discontinue  all  violent  jDro- 
ceedings  against  them,  until  a  full  representation  of 


ail: 


169 


3  ^mDlCATION. 

t^e  matter  canhl   u  ^^^ 

-"'"  bo  obtain,/  cl 't;';:  ;■■' ''"  ^"'^-"7 

-n,  I>.-.  Jonas  Fay,  „ere'nl  •'?'""  ^''"■^'  "-''I'  Wa 
«"\-wer  to  Gov:::!^!^:"'!  ,  ''^''=^-'-  '"  -et,.„ 
P-f  oular  explanations,  in  case  r';""""'"^ '"  '"'■"- 
««li  tf,om  to  do  so.  """  *'"«=«o"a,y  should 

Neither  w-io  fi.^ 
^^-di,is;:i;i~^'«  be  passed  ov. 
««'ves  against  L  a^j^^loT')       ^'""''^''"^  «'«- 
«»«™-s,and  the  s,i',nT  of  bl       "'"'"  ""■"  ''^  "-'> 

-"'  "  Joint  dispatei.  to  Govlltr  "  '"""•  ^'"'^ 
of  »  protest  against  the  treaZl^TV"  "'^  ""'"••« 
""d  '"  i".sti&.ati„n  of  thei,  ,1".  "^  ^'"^  ""'^'^'-^ 

was  again  the  penman  foT  i,T  ,?  """  ''''■    ^'J'«n 
■"ff  "-i,.  provocations.  i':"''"-™ '  ^d,  consido,- 

'""■'"■cl.  they,, ad  been  Zl,  "T  "'  ''«'''«™<^'" 
--  clothed  in  language  s'S""'  ''""  ^^-^-'-ance 
'"S  t^'o  spirit  of  men  cons  '^  ?''"'"' -'"■'=»"'- 
-o'«te  in  the  defense  of  "!■  ''f"  "'S"''^'-  and 

»eet  the  awards  of  jnstice      7  T^^'"'  """  '''^'b  to 

g"ments  are  put  in  a  forciwl  ""  "*'  "'<"''•  ar- 

«PPose  the  sheriff  and  his  '„"""""■•    ""'"^  "'  "°' 
""-diate  possession  o    ourh!;  "^ '*;^' " "«  ""'- 
"■''en  others  oppose  officer    ;„?r  ""'^  ^'''"''   "-^'l 
"'''-'ed,  they  are  also  in'^ted  tn',"'  ""''^  *'''=''^«  - 
"0  end  of  indiotnrente  a...in.;  '"  ""'  "'^'■^  ^eino 

bold  and  manly  par    aS  ^  ".''^  '°"« •''^  ^«  ""t  th 
■■'---othis^afla:;:i:r„i^-'.-ber.y.    And 


le 


S«e  Life  of  Etha.  Alien,  by  Jared 


tamelj  be  disp, 


'^parka 


170       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  ORKEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


'      1 

'      'f 

(J 

m^jL.. 

sessod,  or  oppose  ofRcors  in  taking  posscpsion  ;  and  as  a 
next  necessary  stop,  to  oppose  the  taking  of  rioteri?,  so 
called,  or  run  away  like  so  many  cowards,  and  quit 
tlio  country  to  a  number  of  cringing,  polite  gentlemen, 
■who  have  ideally  possessed  themselves  of  it  already." 
Again:  "Though  they  style  us  rioters  for  opposing 
them,  and  seek  to  catch  and  punish  us  as  such,  yet  in 
reality  themselves  are  the  rioters,  the  tumultuous,  dis- 
orderly, stimnlating  faction,  or  in  fine  the  land-jobbers  ; 
and  every  violent  act  they  have  done  to  compass  their 
designs,  though  ever  so  much  under  pretense  of  law, 
is  in  reality  a  violation  of  law,  and  an  insult  to  the 
constitution  and  authority  of  the  crown,  as  well  as 
to  many  of  us  in  person,  who  have  been  great  suf- 
ferers by  such  inhuman  exertions  of  pretended  law. 
Kiglit  and  wrong  are  eternally  the  same  to  all  periods 
of  time,  places  and  nations;  and  coloring  a  crime  with 
a  specious  pretense  of  law,  only  adds  to  the  criminality 
of  it,  for  it  subverts  the  very  design  of  law,  prostituting 
it  to  the  vilest  purposes."  "We  beg  leave  to  observe," 
says  Allen,  "that  as,  on  the  one  hand,  no  consideration 
whatever  shall  induce  us  to  remit,  in  the  least,  of  our 
loyalty  and  gratitude  to  our  most  gracious  sovereign, 
nor  of  a  reasonable  submission  to  your  Excellency  ;  so, 
on  the  other  hand,  no  tyrannical  exertions  of  the  powers 
of  the  government,  can  deter  us  from  asserting  and 
vindicating  our  undoubted  rights  and  privilegep  as 
Englishmen."  "No  person  or  persons,"  continues  the 
sturdy  patriot,  "can  be  supposed  to  be  under  any  par- 
ticular compact  or  law,  except  it  presupposeth,  that 
that  law  will  protect  such  person  or  persons  in  his  or 
their  properties ;  for  otherwise  the  subject  would,  by 


171 


'ftw,  be    hoiinf]   k-»  k« 

destruction,  wl.io  "  ,•  1""":'^  '"  '"'^  '-"  n""  and 

-™.,,  can ;.:  l1"  :;  rtT;'  "^  '^^"  - 

And  again:  '•  T/,e  transierrittl     r  '"«' »f  men." 

"  a  sacred  VrerojTof  2 T         "''''''  "''^^P-'^ 
So.ern„r«o„„n„e?n.r::£~;:^^^^^^^^^^^ 
and  governors  in  fl,^     ^  ^"erewjth.   ^    iJaj  j^ 

'■■''e  Ethan  A,  ™  to   L"'?  '''""''"'  '»  <'--  ^en 
'en^anceof3„chpr!:e!?,os     ""'"'"  """   "™^''  ■»«-■ 

kindness.     IJe  i„vTd    r  ''  '""'  "'^"'""'^  ""d 

^ard,  a  committee  of  the  .!,       ,  '^ "'^-     ^^er- 

governor  respect  nV,,  on t"  '"'"''  '*  "I"^'  '»  '^e 
'owing  reconfmendat  ;.  ::'^  :!7'  ™^  ""^o  «■«  ^l- 
yonr  Excellency  should  affoM  .,?""''  "'  '^^^'■■°''^ 
townships  all  the  rd   f  in  v  '"""'""'^  "^  ""ose 

till  Lis  Majesty's  pJe^ZZZT'  '"  "^P^""'"""' 
tions  in  behalf  of  the  11  "™"'  ""  P'-osecu- 

V'ith  which  they  s  tnd  7"'  T  r"""'  "*'  "'«  '="™<'» 
us;  and  to  recom^d  ;t  of  '    '  "'""''''''"''  ''^^"'•« 
lands  under  granTsfro'tl         """■''"""' '^""'^^'^'^ 
dt'Hng  the  sale  ^eriTd    tolir",""' '"  "•"  '^  ^'°P' 
"-  lands  in  questfon.-    'tWs  "r  T!^  '^""'''"'"^ 
was  approved  by  the  .„,  '       "'  ""^  committee 

tL.-3  -telligence  fhSanierto  r''  ™^  '''"'         ' 
and  were  hailed  as  the  h  '"■  <^o"««tnents, 

•  T,„-„  „    .  '"''""^'^'■^  °^  P-aee  and  joy 

iJiis  letter  IS  nnhi;<,J,„j  ._..      .     ..  "^   •'^ 


Pape 


srs  —  a 


lli        '■     '' 

P'  ^ 

1l 

i\   H 

r 

It 


U     :  1 

r 

172        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  ORKKN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

The  people  had  never  asked  for  more  tlian  was  implied 
in  these  terms,  being  well  persuaded  that,  liovvever 
the  question  of  jurisdiction  might  be  settled,  the  king 
could  never  sanction  a  course  of  proceeding  which 
would  deprive  tiiem  of  their  property.  Gladness  was 
diffused  rapidly  throughout  the  cabins  of  the  remotest 
settlers.  A  large  public  meeting  wa«>  held  at  Benning- 
ton, where  the  minutes  of  the  governor's  approval  of  a 
peaceful  policy  were  read  amid  loud  acclamations,  and 
for  the  moment,  the  memory  of  all  former  griefs  was 
swept  away  by  the  overflowing  tide  of  enthusiasm  in 
favor  of  Governor  Tryon.  The  following  account  of 
the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  was  sent  to  Albany 
by  the  Fays : 

"We,  as  messengers,  laid  before  the  above  committee 
an  extract  of  the  minutes  of  his  Majesty's  council  of 
the  province  of  Few  York  of  the  2d  instant,  together 
with  his  Excellency  Governor  Tryon's  letter  of  the 
same  date,  directed  to  the  inhabitants  of  Bennington, 
&c.,  and  after  reading  the  same,  the  above  committee 
and  a  numerous  concourse  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
adjacent  count^-^  and  other  spectators,  gave  a  full  and 
unanimous  vote  in  favor  of  the  papers  aforesaid  ;  and 
the  thanks  of  the  people  were  presented  to  us  for  our 
diligence  in  procuring  these  papers.  Peace  wa,^  also 
recommended  on  the  whole  New  Hampshire  Grants, 
by  all  who  were  present ;  when  the  whole  artillery  of 
Bennington,  with  the  small-arms,  were  several  times 
discharged  in  honor  of  the  governor  and  council  of 
Kew  York.— Health  to  the  king  — Health  to  Governor 
Tryon— Health  to  the  council  of  New  York  — Uni- 
versal  peace  and   plenty,  liberty  and   prosperity,  by 


OTKi'iiKN  Fay, 
This  season  of  mmVfr,  .  Jonas  Fa  v." 

Ti-  ■•eeoneiliatLn '::  ir  "''"'^'""■'  ^''""— . 

«>-«dieatod,  and   it  wae   but!"  '""'  "«'   '^"'^ 
'""■■e,.  a„i„„,i,     b^^;'^^™  ;  f;»"  time  before  the 

'">''  «ie  governor  ofIC  y\"^'"'"-^""""'in  Bo.-a 

->-  Tbo  eoneiliator^Tesi  7^"'  '"  '^•""''d 
<=°<"'cU  contained  an  amh;  /  ,  ""^  S'"''^™"'-  and 
'■««-  Of  a  people  ealrtT-r''"'' '""'  --?«<  "-e 

quested  to  refrain  from  ■"""''  efan'ees   were  re- 

*"«  ^'".'s  Piea.:retl7er''"^  '^o-'ai^s  untH 
.  .^-d  in  regard  to  suspend^.  '  •'""  """""g -«« 

'-"  already  been  deeide^^/^:^™"""^  "'''-e  ™its 
"o  prohibition  of  their  clat, "       "  ''''"■     ^'"'^  ^a« 
Which  had  been  award  dTfheCT"""  ^  "'^ '""''« 
nor  were  they  required  to  deist  tV^ '""''  '^''''^""' 
lands  and  determining  their     f  '""'"^-""S  "^^ 

Hence,  ,nany  actual    o'urt  of'  ""'"'"  "'  '""""'''™«- 
^m  remained  open     n"  ''"''"°  ^•"'  '"n^olt 

-  ">e  Partof  tCinhSirt  o''"'^'-^'"^-- 
he  interruption  of  the  frien.  ,v  f       ^"'"'^' '"'^^ned 
"oped  had  been  establish  df/"^,^'™''  "  ^"^ 
'ie  eommissione,  i„  K  ^  y„  t'^,  ""*  '"'^"««  "f 
eeived  at  Bennington  fju^i  'tf """"  ""«  ^ 
-•■o  was  especial  odiou    ^  ti  :"'  "  ™"-^^»' 

-gaged   in  some  of  th      orther     t""  ,'  ""  '"^'^ 
««rvey  of  lands.    A  small  '"""^'-Ps,  in  the 

at  their  head,  wenf  in "u    T^'  "'"^  ^°'°'""  A"» 

'"  pnrsuit  oi  Mr.  Kockburn,  and 


h   ;,!, 


if! 


174      .ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  1IEK0^:S. 


I 


r  :i 


I 


succeeded  in  capturing  him  and  in  destroying  hi&  in- 
struments. He  was  taken  to  Castleton,  tried  by  a 
court-martial,  and  threatened  with  death  should  he 
ever  again  enter  the  interdicted  territory.  But  at  this 
juncture,  the  result  of  the  mission  of  the  Fays  to  New 
York  was  learned,  and  Mr.  Koekburn  was  released, 
and  the  sentence  against  him  withdrawn.  During  the 
expedition  in  soarch  of  Mr.  Koekburn,  Ethan  Allen 
and  his  party  dispossessed  the  tenants  of  an  intruder 
in  New  Haven,  near  the  mouth  of  Otter  creek.  The 
charter  of  the  townships  had  been  granted  by  New 
Hampshire  in  1763,  and  as  early  as  1769,  a  settlement 
was  commenced  under  the  charter,  and  a  saw-mill 
erected.  Soon  afterward.  Colonel  Reid,  of  New  York, 
who  claimed  under  a  subsequent  patent  from  that  prov- 
ince, forcibly  turned  out  the  New-Hampshire  settlers 
and  put  his  own  tenants  in  possession.  They  erected  * 
additional  log-houses  and  a  grist-mill.  Allen  gave  these 
persons  a  short  time  to  remove  their  effects,  and  then 
burned  the  houses,  requiring  the  peopie  to  repurchase 
under  New  Hampshire,  or  leave  the  district.  Pang- 
burn,  the  former  proprietor,  was  put  in  possession  of 
his  saw-mill,  but  the  machinery  of  the  grist-mill  was 
dcbtroyed.  Governor  Tryon,  on  hearing  of  these  ex- 
ploits, was  much  exasperated.  He  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  inhabitants  of  the  Grants,  complaining  of  this  con- 
duct as  an  insult  to  the  government,  and  a  violation 
of  public  faith.  This  letter  was  taken  into  consider- 
ation by  the  committees  of  the  several  townships, 
assembled  at  Manchester,  who  returned  a  bold  and 
decisive,  though  conciliatory  answer.  They  asserted 
that  their  conduct  could  be  no  breach  of  faith,  becaujae 


t-EITEB  TO  GOVE«HOB  TiiVOH.  175 

none  was  plighted  until  the  ISth  „»■  t  i        , 
proposition  of  Governor  T,L  '^'  ''■'"'"  "'« 

P-pIe  in  convention  at  b'^'*'  ''""'''"'  "^^  "'« 
tansactions  ..JZJJTT'''  "'"'  "'•'"  "'' 
t-.e;  that  ifThet  had   ,  '^'^^'^"^'^  '"'^"'^  "-' 

.—  ^n^nteS    t:;:;^^^^^;eenthe,.g. 
territory  in  disDut^.      Tf       ,  •*    "'"'   "'''^"Py  Hie 

was  not'forb^^dCbv  the':      ""'"''  -"'-'>«'' ''"T, 

wholly  misunderstood  the  chaLer  ofr'  ""^'  ''"' 
and  had  been  deceived  in  r'arf  to  ,1  '"  ^  ™P°"'"'™-- 
iad  received  their  approvlfn  "'"f""' ^■'"''* 

they  had  never  consented  7  ,  ^''"^ ''^^"'■^d  l"'™  that 
abandon  their  property  o'tf,  "T  """^  ^°"-^™' '» 
York.     Althou  ^th  ',     '^  l'"^  T"'''"'''  "*■-^'- 

in  the  correspondence  IZ.     "T'  """^  '''^'"^^ 

^  ®'  ^t  was  evident  timf  n 

tion  of  the   neAiU  „  .       ""-'"  '^la'  the  situa- 

me  people  was  precisely  what  it  l,nr1    i 

previous  to  any  attempt  at  negotfat.on  ,      '^ 

usual  in  cases  of  unsuccessf,,!  ffl  f  '"''  "'  '^ 

the  animosity  of  the   ^r  '  "'  >'<=conciiiati„n, 

prospect  of  a  p  a    L'  ""^^  ""'^^^'^'  ^"^  "'^ 

wasLch  di,nin'isW  "'""^  *^'  ''"'  '^"^-^''- 

ail  previous  resotuti  to  Si  K  ""'v^  T""'' 
adopted  others  still  more  bdrer       ^^-i-I^ers,  but 

ofstrengthening  their  interest^        G™!:  'L^r « 

to  office,      n  sme  "r""°"  ""'  ""'™'"'  ""'"'^ 
some  instances  these  appointments  w.re 


I!     -I:} 


176        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  Q  REEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


'•    tit 


..{ 


attended  with  the  anticiimted  results,  and  the  individ- 
uals thus  distinguished  Lecame  the  adherents  of  the 
government   by  which   they  had   been   lionored.     To 
counteract  the  tendency  of  this  policy,  it  was  decreed 
by  the  convention,  that  no  person  residing  within  the 
limits  of  the  dispufed  territory  should  hold  or  accept 
otHce  under  New  York.     On  conviction  before  a  proper 
tribunal  of  Green-Mountain  Boys,  the  offender  was  to 
be  punished  at  the  discretion  of  the  "  court."    The  pun- 
ishment under  this  decree,  which  continued  in  force 
for  several  years,  was  commonly  whipping  and  banish- 
ment—  the  whipping  was  quaintly  denominated  "the 
application   of   the   heeoh-seal,^'   or,   as    Ethan   Allen 
sometimes  had  it,  "a  castigation  with  the  twigs  of  the 
wilderness."     The  JS' ew-Hampshire  Grants  were  thus 
actually  separated  from  New  York,  and  thenceforward 
acted  as  an  independent  republic,  the  people  making 
and  administering  their  own  laws,  and  yielding  only  a 
nominal  allegiance  to  the  authority  of  the  British  crown. 
Indeed,  the  people  of  Bennington  seem  never  to  have 
fully  acknowledged  the  jurisdiction  of  New  York.     Un- 
til near  the  beginning  of  1770,  the  notifications  of  all 
town-meetings  were  usually  headed,  "  Province  of  New 
Hampshire ;"  but  after  that  time  tL;;y  were  simply  en- 
titled "  Town  of  Bennington,"  without  any  allusion  to 
the  province  in  which  it  wes  situated.     This  M-as  con- 
tinued until  1778,  when  the  inbabuants  of  the  Grants 
formally  announced  tjeir  i'j(iej)cndence,  and  adopted 
a  written  constitution.     Daring   the  intermediate  pe- 
riod they  existed  as  a  thorou.,^!-  democracy;  all  laws 
and  reirnhitions,  ns  well  as  the  time  and  manner  ot 
their  enforcement  in  particular  instances,  being  decided 


THE  SCOTCH  KmQRAmB. 

to  seek  redress  of  H.  '''""''•"^'"^■^■•s  to  Loudon, 

''--engrosstdSlSCS:!'::"!  ";-'-'«» 
-m,e„t,  and  prevented  a  ^d  cis  e  1  ,  '''' 
taten  in  regard  to  the  matter  '""^   '''"'S 

From  the  Jail  of  1775!  „nni  .. 
the  Eevolution  thl  t    !  commencement  of 

carried  oTS  i  .er  ir"""  "'"'  ^^"  ^'^"^  -- 

iistor,i3o::frp::L\r^''"<'''"™-'^^  ^ts 

^-cls;   of  indictm  „ts  Srr;'"""*''''*^"^'^'"''^'^ 

^e..Ha,„p3hire  OrantsTrte    VrrZXIh''^ 
attempts:  of  Jaws  «nr]  ,..     i         •  resisting  these 

Wo':  a'nd  pulilht   nt?:  ~™Me'  '"1  .''^^'■^■ 
the  JVew-Vork  intruders -and  "''""""^expulsion  of 

o.  bani^hment  of  p^ns  o        f  eZ '  7 ''■'"^'^' 

|W  Of  the  most  l^JZZZSi"'-    '/^  ' 
he  mentioned     TU  .-  f,i  ^'*  P'^'''°'^  n«<=d 

tie  seene  of  ahafll  e  '"'  ''  ''^^-^''^-  ^-"^. 
-g  justice,  beeall  k"""^  """"'^^  "' ""'d- 
InJuly,  1773  CoTo',/",^'"'  °'' ^""''^^  '■'Acuities. 

recently  landed  in  tHt "tv  t!        """^'""'^  ''"  ""'' 
Haven,  and  becomlhl?^'     '"'~'"P*''y  l"™  ^  New 

"e  da  L,ed   nnde7a  Jr?'  "''""  ""^  """'^  ''''''='' 
party   took    "mm'd,-!.  ^  ""  ^'"'  ^'''^-    ^i- 

'lenfs     r.  ""7'' "'«   possession    of  the   impvove- 
iients— a  second  time  exr»llin<r  tho  k  -     rr         , 
•ettlere       ir,.,„'„  ^J-'iing  the  Ivjff-Hampsh  re 

cMiers.      Having  repaired    hu   ,„.•).„    „  ,       ,  ^„  . 


!'I         I 


i 


:,iiii 


178       EIHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MODNTAIN  IIEE0E8. 


I- 


1'. 
( 


h  ii 


returned  to  JS^ew  York,  leaving  the  Scotch  men  to  retain 
possession  of  tlie  premises  and  to  continue  the  im- 
provements.   Intelligence  of  this  invasion  was  sent  to 
Bennington,  and  Allen,  Warner,  Baker  and  others  im- 
mediately repaired  to  the  scene  of  action,  and  forcibly 
reinstated   the  New-Hampshire  claimants.    The  ma- 
chinery  of  the  flouring  mills   was   broken,  and   the 
miller  was  warned  not  to  repair  it,  "on  pain  of  suf- 
fering the  displeasure  of  the  Green-Mountain  Boys." 
The  Scotchmen,  who  were  accompanied  by  their  fam- 
ilies, on  being  informed  of  the  nature  of  the  contro- 
versy, declared  that  they  had  been  deceived  oj  Colonel 
Reid,  removed  from  the  place,  and  finally  settled  near 
the  Mohawk   river.     To   prevent  further  intrusions, 
Allen  and  his  party  caused  a  block-fort  to  be  erected 
at  the  place,  and  supplied   it  with  a  small  garrison, 
which  thenceforward   afforded  full   protection   to  the 
people  in  that  vicinity.     A  similar  fort  was  built  on 
the  Winooski,  amply  furnished  with  arms  and  ammu- 
nition.   Further  defensive  measures  were  contemplated, 
and  an  agent  was  actually  sent  abroad  to  purchase  the 
necessary  munitions  of  war. 

In  consequence  of  information  received  at  New  York, 
of  these  and  other  occurrences  of  a  similar  character, 
the  council  advised  Governor  Tryon,  "that  the  fre- 
quency of  riots  and  the  boldness  of  rioters  made  it  ne- 
cessary to  employ  a  military  force ; "  and  unanimously 
requested  him  to  demand  of  General  Haldimand,  the 
commander  of  the  regular  forces,  "  a  sufficient  number 
of  troops  to  occupy  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  to 
aid  the  magistrates  in  the  performance  of  their  duty." 
Tiiis  requirement  was  made  by  the  governor,  but  was 


ALLEN  AND  THE  "  DcJiJHAMrTES."  J  79 

The  town  of  Clarendon  and  its  .icinitj  was  the  the 

York  «lf[,       I  7u  ^  ^^"^^"^^  ^^^  c^ainis  of  ]S-cw 

of  either  New  York  or  ^     '"''1^"™'^''^^  «'->  i'™ds 

diction  of  JN^ew  York     Tf  •     ,%  '  ^^'^^^"^^^^   the  juns- 

^he  Kew.Ha.pshi:f  Gra'  ::  attXl''^  "''''  ^^ 
the  Green-Mountain  Boys  and  11  ""«^^'°^««  t» 

adopted  to  indnee  til'lTll^Z^T'^  "'■'^^^ 
called,  to  reeog„i.e  the  vaHdi  7  ?thr  t  UeT  T 
Governor  \Ventwnr<-h      t         ^    "^   t^e   titles  from 

force  them  into?  '  ,  '"^"'  '''^''  ''  '«■■■">  "' 
Green-M  „  b  7^:^  "''f  ^  "«-  "^  "- 
hundred  armed  nl\  T .  ^"^"''  ^'"'  ™« 
a«tnm.  of    773     The  7  '°  ^''""""'^  '"   "'« 

portion  was  cSeiijtidrzziri'!;  r 
--"visitin,tLi:hahSsra;;ir;~ 


up 
II' 

lit 
Vv 


fKl 


•■ 

1 

i  ^ 

ii 

i 

i        ; 

5 

i 

i 

!: 
t 

! 

i 

1    •     1 

-• 

■■  ■  ;-. 

i 

180        KTHAIS  Ai,L»,N  AiSD    iHJiEi^-AlOL'JSTAIN  ilEiiOES. 

i'e])ent  of  tlieir  x\\;w-York  attachments."  After  com- 
mitting Boveral  acts  of  violence,  and  threatening  Btill 
severer  measures  should  their  requirements  be  disre- 
garded, they  returned  to  their  homes.  The  persons 
wlio  had  lied  from  Clarendon  proceeded  to  New  York, 
and  placed  before  the  governor  and  council  a  full 
statement  of  tlie  alledged  outrages  of  Allen  and  his 
party,  which  they  denominated  "the  Cenningtou  mob." 
In  tlie  winter  of  1774,  the  New- York  grantees  com- 
bined their  influence,  and  applied  to  the  assembly  for 
legislative  aid  against  the  Green-Mountain  Boys.  The 
result  was  a  law  purporting  to  be  an  act  for  the  pre- 
vention of  tumultuous  and  riotous  assemblies,  and  the 
punishment  of  rioters,  which  may  safely  be  pronounced 
to  be  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  specimens  of  leg 
islative  despotism  that  ever  disgraced  a  statute-book. 
After  naming  Ethan  Allen,  Seth  Warner,  Remember 
Bilker,  Robert  Cockrane,  Peleg  Sunderland,  Silvanus 
Brown,  James  Brackenridge,  and  John  Smith  as  the 
principal  leaders  in  the  riots,  the  law  empowered  the 
governor  and  council  to  issue  a  proclamation  requiring 
those  persons,  or  any  others  who  should  be  indicted  for 
a  similar  offense,  (that  of  resisting  the  sheriff,)  to  sur- 
render themselves  for  commitment  to  any  justice  of 
the  peace,  within  seventy  days  from  the  date  of  such 
requirement ;  and  in  case  this  summons  should  be  dis- 
obeyed, the  person  neglecting  to  surrender  himself  was 
to  be  "adjudged  and  deemed"  convicted,  and  to  suffer 
death  without  furtlier  trial;  and  the  supreme  court 
was  authorized  to  pass  a  judicial  sentence  in  the  same 
manner  as  if  an  actua  trial  had  been  had,  and  a  ver- 
dict of  guilty  duly  rendered !    This  law  was  enacted 


lii! 


TIIK  "JU,0()DYLAW." 


181 


on  the  9th  of  March,  1774,  and  on  the  same  d.v  fh 
govc...or,  never  wear^  of  otfering  rewards  Tb/io 
prehension  of  Allen  and  h;«  n        .  ®''^''''  *^^   ^^^^  ap- 
larn-ifinn  .  '  associates,  issued  a  proc- 

either  of  fl.P  ..fi  '  ""-^  pounds   for 

«uner  01  the  other  persons  accused  as  "fl,«  v  •     •     i 

nnLdeaders  of  M.o  i>       •         ^''"^^^^  ^s    tlio  principal 

^i^ciucrs  or  the  lienninirton  nioh  "    ti.^  . 

upon  tliese  persons,  as  would  ovcriw»  fi 

to  the  authority  oi'  J^'ew  1-17    tL    ft  TP"""" 

otherwise.     "Tliey  raw  "  siT  AM  ""  ™''  *" 

xiit.^  may,    said  Allen  lauo-hftK.lv  u  , 

t.'nce  ns  to  be  J,un,.  for  refusing  to  vdi  f;  „ 
our  necks  in  the  halter;  but  how  will  the  2l    1  ' 
to  l,a,„  a  Green-Mountain  Bo,  be  J  Sy^    ,      "J" 

---WbeenantieipateVu^rur::: 
so  nntahng.    They  reviewed  the  causes  of  the  eontrn. 
versy,  asserted  anew  their  riW,t,    .m        ,    , 
werenof  tt.^  „  ^     '  *™'m^id  that  they 

tZ  had         ^"^"''''°'''  ""''  ""  "'«  ^'•»'-'=o  to  which 
la«s  ot  self-preservation,  and   that  they  were  deter 
nined  to  maintain  the  ground  tbey  bad  taJn  witoT; 
tecir  or  favor,  at   every  liazird    ^.y.ri  vvuiiout 

^i;e.  closed  their  P^^ ^^.TL^Z 
all  necessary  preparations  sho„ld\e  11^^^^ 
tte  .n.a  ,tants  should  l,„ld  themselves  in  ,ld" 
a  minute's  warning  to  defend  those  among  th  m"  wlo 

been  falsely  denoramated  rioters;"  declarin.,    n^  fl 
same  time,  that  they  would  act  o^lv  on        drfeti  . 
a..J  that  in  all  civil  cases,  and  criminal  prosecut::! 


ni 


m^ 


182        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKKEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

really  such  — they  would  assist  the  proper  officers  to 
enforce  the  execution  of  tlic  laws. 

In  addition  to  these  public  doings  of  the  people  at 
large  by  their  representatives,  the  proscribed  persons, 
at  the  head  of  whom  was  Etiian  Allen,  published  a 
manifesto,  to  which  they  jointly  affixed  their  names, 
containing  a  defense  of  themselves,  and  free  remarks 
on  the  New-York  act  and  proclamation.     To  look  for 
moderation  as  a  prominent  quality  in  a  paper  of  this 
kind,  is  perhaps  more  than  would  be  authorized  by  the 
nature  of  the  case,  or  the  character  of  the  individuals 
concerned  ;  yet  it  expressed  sentiments  which  we  should 
be  sorry  not  to  find  in  men  whom  we  would  respect, 
and  in  whom  we  would  confide  in  the  hour  of  peril. 
It  spoke  in  a  tone  of  deep  complaint  of  the  injuries 
they  had  suflfered  from  the  vindictive  persecutions  of 
their  enemies,  protested  against  the  tyrannical  abuse  of 
power  which  would  arraign  them  as  criminals  for  pro- 
tecting their  own  property,  and   threatened  death  to 
those  who  "should  be  tempted  by  the  wages  of  un- 
righteousness oflfered  in  the  proclamation,"  and  under- 
take to  put  in  execution  against  them  the  sanguinary 
edict  of  the  ."New-York  assembly.     After  these  decisive 
manifestoes  of  th«^  belligerent  parties,  acts  of  violence 
might  be  anticipated.     These  were,  however,  not  nu- 
merous, nor  of  a  decisive  character.     There  were  a  few 
cases  in  which  the  "beech-seal"  was  applied  to  the 
partisans  of  New  York  with  considerable  energy ;  but 
this  punishment  was  reserved  for  the  most  incorrigible 
offenders.      Milder  measures  were  adopted  with   the 
less  dangerous  and  active,  and  usually  with  succesp 
Ridicule   was   often   employed,   and    constituted    lae 


PUNISHMENT  OF  DOCTOi:  aDAAIS. 


183 

Doctor  tLzzi ;  ;;""f '-  r  --  -^ 

declared  hin.sclf  a  ^r^ 'isan  oIn'  °v    ,"*'  ""^"'^ 
accustomed  to8n,.„H  '''''  ^''*'  "'"^  ^"^ 

P-i.aet.e«t;etotS::l:^;::,^^^^^^^ 

from  producing  a  reform     ,„?•         "  ^"^'-     ^" 
stimulate  the  aLerlfr'  "''  '"""<'   ""'^  '» 

with  armed  Wmslt'''^''^"'"'^  '^"^"•'•'  "'■"forth- 
-dprolim  d  wf  '"  P""*  ^"^  o"'-  --pons, 
than  ever  H?  "^'""""  ""''  '"""^'^  «"''  "^--dedly 
defend  hmse^to'trT"'  "''  '""  '^^'-""-tion  to 
person  „C  sh  ,  ^  ltt,V''  T'  ''"'"'  ^"^ 
de«-gn.    Such  a  thr,T  ™  ""''  "">'  ""fri^dij 

and  compelled  t  s  :'<,  ,  ""  ""'"^""f ''  -o"'-t. 
"Green-Mountain  Tavern"  •„  p  "'  "'''^"  '»  "^« 
by  Captain  Stephen  F^  and  f '""''^"°"' ^^^  ''«?' 
vate  residence  bv  hi,  f       '  "'"'P''^''  "'  «  P^- 

wl,^.„  I  ^         grandson,  Samuel  Fay   Eso  i 

where  he  was  arrairaed  before  «,«  •^'     ^''^ 

not  satisfied  with  his  del  eommittee,  who, 

punishment  IlTch  1» T"'""'"'  ''™  '"""-el 
the  door  o^:'t::—r--«'-eted.    Betbre 

feet  high  the  ton  nZ,  •  u  "«''-?''«''  twenty-iive 

Of  a  ealmlri°L:t  :i::r  nt  "'^  ^'^'^ 
turned  toward  Albanv  itJ  .  '  '^'"'  ''*  ''«»d 

n.idable  teeth  por^e'd^  V?"     ''™'^''^'  ""'^  "^  ^»- 

approach  fromnr"r2r'";r"?''^^°"'*' 

iitccion.      llje    contumacious 


n 

1 1 

1" 

I 

i, 

I'll      ' 


184        KTHAN  ALLKM  AiJD  OUEKN-MOUNTAIN  I1EKOE3. 

doctor  was  tied  into  a  chair,  and  drawn  up  to  tfie  top 
of  the  sign-post,  where,  according  to  the  decision  of 
the  court,  he  was  to  remain  suspended  for  two  hours. 
This  occasioned  great  merriment  to  the  largo  assem- 
blage wiiicii  was  present  to  witness  the  affair,  and  so 
mortified  Doctor  Adams  that  he  returned  to  his  house 
in  silence,  and  thenceforward  took  no  part  in  the 
controversy. 

It  will  be  borne  iu  mind,  that  the  resolutions  adopted 
by  the  convent. ons  of  the  people  were  regarded  as  the 
law  of  the  New-Hampshire  Grants.     Offenses  against 
the  dearest  rights  of  the  people,  when  tlioy  threatened 
to  be  attended  with  any  degree  of  success,  were  pun- 
ished  with  commensurate  severity.     The  case  of  Ben- 
jamin Hough  will  serve  as  an  example  of  this.     He 
was  among  those  who  applied  to  the  assembly  of  Isew 
York   for   legislative    aid    against    the    Green-Moun- 
tain Boys,  and  was  commissioned  as  a  justice  <  ''  the 
peace,  on  the  very  day  that  the  assemljly  pa.-sed  its 
sanguinary  law  and  the  governor  issued  his  offensive 
proclamation  against  the  defenders  of  their  mountain 
homes.     Taking  with  him  these  documents,  he  returned 
to  his  residence  in  Clarendon,  and  undertook  to  estab- 
lish the  authority  of  jN^ew  York.     He  was  repeatedly 
warned  not  to  act  as  a  magistrate,  but,  being  found 
incorrigible,  was  taken  before  the  committee  of  safety 
at  Sunderland.     The  committee  ordered  the  ree,. ution 
of  the  convention  of  the  New-Hampshire  Grants  to  be 
read,  in  which  the  holding  of  any  office,  civil  or  mili- 
tary, under  the  colony  of  New  York,  within  that  dis- 
trict, was  declared  to  be  penal.     The  prisoner  confessed 
that  he  had  been  active  in  procuring  the  passage  of 


hough's   CERTIFICATJS. 


185 


the  odiou*.  JSew-Vork  iuw,  and  in  exerci«i,.^r  his  au- 
thunty  as  a  Uiugistmte,  but  i)lcaded  tiie  jurisdiction  of 
Isevv  Vork in  justiUcationuf  his  conduct.    Tliesenteuce 
ot  the  committee  was  as  follows:  "That  the  prisoner 
be  taken  from  the  bar  of  this  connnittee  of  safety,  and 
be  tied  to  a  tree,  and  then,  on  his  naked  back,  receive 
two  hundred  stripes  ;  his  back  being  dressed,  he  should 
depart  out  of  the  district,  and  on  return,  without  spe- 
ciul  leave  of  the  convention,  to  suffer  death."    This 
sentence  was  carried  into  execution  in  the  presence  of 
u    urge  concoui-se  of  people ;   and  at  his  request  the 
iollowmg    certificate    was    furnished    for    his    future 
reference : — 

"  SuNDKRLAND,  30th  Januarj,  1775. 
"This  may  certify  the  inhabitants  of  the  Kew- 
Hampshire  Grants,  tiiat  Be.njamlx  JIougm  hath  this 
^teTT'^  f./"^^  punishment  for  his  crime  c^^ 
ZforilT''-'^  t''  '"^''^'y  5  and  our  inhabitants  are 
ordered  to  give  him,  the  said  IIouGir,  a  free  and  nnmo- 
ested  passport  toward  the  city  of  i\ew  York,  or  to 

"Given  under  our  hands  the  day  and  date  aforesaid. 

Ethan  Allen, 
Setii  Waknek." 

When  this  paper  was  handed  to  Hough,  Allen 
observed  that  the  certificate,  together  with  the  receipt 
on  bis  back,  would,  no  doubt,  be  admitted  as  legal 
evidence  before  the  supreme  court  and  the  governor  and 
council  of  ]S-ew  York,  although,  in  seveml  instances, 
to  his  knowledge,  the  king's  warrant  to  Governor 
Wentworth  and  his  excellency's  s^lgn-manual,  with  the 
fifreat  seal  of  the  province  of  New  Hampshire  would 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT.3) 


V 


// 


// 


/ 


5r     ^/^ 


1.0 


I.I 


11.25 


L-  «    III  21 
.'F  i|£    12.0 


14.  Ill  1.6 


riiuiu^apmC 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  r.y.  1 45  BO 

(716)  872-4503 


4^ 


a\ 


iV 


\ 


;\ 


fv 


^  ^^?^^ 


"^^"l  ^- 


r^^^- 


186        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GBEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


'  ^Vll 


1  < 


fs.a 


not.     Living,  as  we  now  do,  in  the  enjoyment  of  just 
and  equal  laws,  and  in  times  when  such  penalties  are 
never  inflicted,  it  is  no  slight  task  to  form  a  proper 
estimate  of  the  measures  now  under  review.     Those 
who  regard  them  as  severe  must  bear  in  mind  that, 
aside  from  the  alternative  of  surrendering  their  farms, 
which  their  industry  had  made  to  blossom  as  the  rose, 
or  a  determined  resistance  by  force,  the  settlers  on  the 
New-Hampshire  Grants  were  threatened  with  penalties 
the  most   inhuman,   for  endeavoring   to  defend   the 
homes  that  were  dear  to  them.     "Let  it  not  be  said," 
remarks  a  distinguished  Yermonter,*  "  that  the  inflic- 
tion of  this  barbarous  punishment  proves   that  the 
people  of  the  Grants  were  less  civilized  than  the  peo- 
ple of  other  parts  of  Kew  England  ;  for  long  afterward 
this  relic  of  barbarism  was  found  in  the  criminal  code 
of  all  the  states  ;  but  a  more  advanced  state  of  civili-  • 
zation  has  since  broken  up  the  habit  by  which  it  had 
been  continued  through  generations  of  civilized  man, 
and  it  has  been  exploded,  never  again  to  find  a  place 
in  the  code  of  any  of  the  American  states."     Aside 
from  the  reasons  heretofore  given  for  retaliation  on  the 
part  of  the  Green-Mountain  Boys,  it  need  not  escape 
remembrance  that  as  necessity  drove  them  to  resistance, 
so  sound  policy  would  naturally  dictate  that  such  re- 
sistance should  be  of  a  character  to  inspire  a  full  and 
firm  belief  that  it  would  be  effectual.     Every  prospect 
of  reconciliation  or  submission  to  the  claims  of  Kew 
York  had  vanished.    The  New-Kampshire  grantees, 
believing  the  action  of  the  New- York  authorities  to 
originate  in  the  avarice  of  a  set  of  speculators  wH 

•  Hob.  Daniel  Cliipman. 


)£8. 

it  of  just 
alties  are 
a  proper 
'.    Those 
ind  that, 
sir  farms, 
the  rose, 
rs  on  the- 
penalties 
fend   the 
be  said," 
le  inflic- 
that  the 
the  peo- 
fterward 
nal  code 
3f  civili-  • 
h  it  had 
ed  man, 
a  place 
Aside 
Q  on  the 
;  escape 
sistance, 
3uch  re- 
iulJ  and 
Drospect 
of  New 
rantees, 
ities  to 
)rs  wl:  ** 


PEIVATIOKS   OF  THE   PIONEERS. 


181 


coveted  their  lands,  and  that  the  people  of  Kew 
York  felt  no  disposition  to  aid  in  enforcing  such 
claims — satisfied  that  the  public  sentiment  was  highly 
favorable  to  the  rights  of  the  settlers— and  being 
aware,  from  past  experience,  that  the  militia  of  the 
colony  could  never  be  i/sduced  to  contend  against 
them — regarded  with  contempt  every  threat  or  legal 
enactment  intended  to  inspire  terror.  The  idea  of 
submission  seems  never  for  a  moment  to  have  occupied 
the  attention  of  the  handful  of  brave  men  against 
whom  these  measures  were  directed.  Educated  in  the 
school  of  adversity,  and  inured  to  hardships  and  dan- 
gers, they  met  and  sustained  the  shock  with  a  firm, 
unbroken  spirit. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  controversy  in  regard 
to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  the 
population  of  that  district  is  supposed  not  to  have 
exceeded  three  hundred  families  ;  but  in  the  year  1775 
the  number  of  inhabitants  was  estimated  at  twenty 
thousand.    The  smoke  of  the  settlers'  cabins  curled  up 
from  almost  all  the  numerous,  beautiful   and  fertile 
valleys  which  nestle  amid  the  Green  Mountains  ;  and 
the  sound  of  the  woodman's  ax  echoed  from  almost 
every  hill-side.     As  is  usually  the  case  with  the  pio- 
neers of  a  new  country,  the  early  settlers  of  Yermont 
were  poor,  and  wholly  dependent  upon  their  efibrts  for 
obtaining  homes  for  themselves  and  families.    Their 
descendants  can  scarcely  realize  the  privations  and 
sufienngs  they  endured  in  thus  establishing  themselves 
in  the  unbroken  wilderness.     In  numerous  instances, 
families  proceeded  to  the  farms  they  had  purchased, 
miles  from  any  other  human  habitation,  and  encamped 


^^^^KBS) 

^^M''  1 

\M 


I      I 


I,:!: 


188        ETHAN  AIAMN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

in  the  forest  until,  by  their  own  unaided  eflbrts,  they 
could   erect  log-cabins.     Many  of  them  traveled  in 
canoes,  or  on  foot,  carrying  their  entire  effects  upon 
their  backs.     The  heads  of  other  families  proceeded  to 
their  farms  in  the  summer,  erected   cabins,  cleared 
their  lands,  and  in  the  winter  brought  their  families  to 
their  rude  and  solitary  homes.    It  was  not  uncommon 
lor  them  to  travel  on  foot,  drawing  their  household 
utensils  on  "handsleds,"  and,  frequently,  when   the 
wife  was  too  feeble  to  endure  these  trials,  the  husband 
would   draw  her  in   this   manner.     A  single   family 
would  thus  move  into  a  township,  and  reside  months 
without  seeing  another  human  being.    Mr.  Amo.  Cut- 
Icr,  the  first  settlor  in  the  town  of  Brandon,  spent  an 
entire  winter  without  seeing  any  other  person  ;   and 
Mr  Abijah  Wheelock,  an  early  pioneer  of  Calais,  after 
a  flourishing  town  had  grown  up  around  him,  would 
allude  pleasantly  to  the   hermit-life  he  had  formerly 
endured,  by  asserting  there  had  been  a  time  when  he 
was  the  most  respectable  man  in  the  town.    The  wife  of 
Thomas  Whitmore,  the  earliest  settler  in  Marlborough 
spent  the  most  of  one  winter  alone,  her  husband  being 
absent  on  business.    This  lady  lived  to  the  advanced 
age  of  eighty-seven  years,  and  saw  a  flourishing  state 
grow  up,  where  but  a  few  scattered  families  resided 
when  she  entered  the  territory.     Throughout  her  activa 
years  she  performed   the  duties  of  a  nurse;  and  so 
indispensable  was   her  assistance  considered   in   that 
vicinity,  in  cases  where  the  census  of  the  new  state 
was  affected,  that  the  good  old  lady  was  enabled  to 
boast,  in  her  declining  years,  that  she  had  assisted  at 
the  birth  of  over  two  thousand  children ! 


)E8. 

brts,  they 
iveled  in 
!Ct8  upon 
needed  to 
,  cleared 
imilies  to 
1  common 
ousehold 
^hen  the 
husband 
3   family 
!  months 
110:5  Cnt- 
jpent  an 
>n  ;   and 
lis,  after 
3,  would 
brmerly 
vhen  he 
i  wife  of 
(orough, 
d  being 
Ivanced 
ig  state 
resided 
r  active 
and  so 
in   that 
w  state 
bled  to 
sted  at 


A   NEW  TROUBLR. 


189 


The  Kew-IIampshire  grantees  were  by  no  means  so 
engrossed  by  their  own  troubles  as  to  ,Ln,iZZ 
the  pohcy  pursued  by  the  mother  country  toward  her 

emigrants  from  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts    thev 

rr  d'r  ^'\ ''' ''-'''' ''  ^^-^rwh;: 

cut  river,  who  had  surrendered  their  original  charters 
and  taken  out  new  grants  undpr  f  h.  k  a  .^""^^ 
York  «n.l  T  A  5^"^^  ""^^^^^e  broad  seal  of  Kew 
York,  and  had  submitted  to  the  jurisdiction  of  that 

S  Sid     fT       ""  "  "'^^'  '''  ~«  -  the 
^^est  side  of  the  mountains  were  interested.    Eut  their 

reedom  from  participation  in  the  angry  conte      b 
tween  the  settlers  and  the  governor  of  :;  w  Yo^ 

IZT:  '^^^^^-^-^^^  to  understand'^rnd' 
resist  the  tyrannical  measures  which  England  was 
p^epar^g  for  the  more  complete  subjection  of  Th 

year  1775,  n  their  midst,  which  served  sm  further  to 

oTtrV  ;i'"T '''''  '-'^'^  ^^^^^^-^^^^ 

n  W  bet  J     M      '  f""  '^^'  *^^  ^-^  -«  -tab- 
lished  between  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  manv 

lormer  province,  in   compensation   for  their  servicp, 

hroj,n  ante,   he  latter,  and  were  required  to  abandon 
the,r  possessions.    The  state  of  Massachusetts   with 
a  commendable  sense  of  justice,  made  them      '  com 
pensation,  a  grant  of  what  is  now  the  towns  o   Putney 
Dumme.ton  and   Brattieboroii.h,   Vermont,! tie 
called,  in  those  days,  "the  Equivalent  LanJ,"_and 


I 

II'   H 


It  ,v 

If,!', 


til 


i'  ■; 


Ii       >  I 


190        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

their  title,  it  is  believed,  was  respected  by  New  Harnp- 
ehire.    These  men  were  of  the  old  Puritan  stock,  and 
when,  upon  the  conquest  of  Canada,  in  which  they 
had   aided,   the    British    parliament    established   the 
Roman  Catholic  faith  as  the  religion  of  that  province, 
by  an  act  called  "the  Quebec  Bill,"  it  was  extremely 
exasperating  to   their  feelings;   and  one   Lieutenant 
Spalding,  of  Dummerston,  on  one  occasion,  called  the 
king  "the  Pope  of   Canada."    This  remark,  which 
might  have  been  wisely  and  judiciously  passed  over, 
was  seized   upon   by  the  royal  satellites,  as  a  good 
opportunity  to   show  their  power,  and  Spalding  was 
arrested  for  high  treason,  and  imprisoned  in  the  jail  at 
Westminster.     This  was  on  the  28th  of  October,  1774, 
and  on  the  29th,  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  of  Dum- 
merston  assembled  and  chose  a  committee  of  corre- 
spondence, "to  join,"  in  their  own   language,  "with 
other  towns  and  respectable  bodies  of  people,  the  bet- 
ter to  secure  and  protect  the  rights  and  privileges  of 
themselves  and  fellow-creatures  from  the  ravages  and 
embarrassments  of  the  British  tyrant  and   his  ]S"ew- 
York  and  other  emissaries."    This  led  to  such  concert 
that  a  large  body  of  men  from  Dummerston,  Putney, 
Guilford,  Halifax  and  Draper,  (now  Wilmington,;  pr 
ceeded  to  Westminster,  opened  the  door  of  the  jail,  and 
released  Spalding  from  imprisonment. 

This  brought  the  controversy  to  a  point,  and  it  now 
became  manifest  that,  on  the  one  side,  if  the  royai 
authority  was  to  be  upheld,  the  whole  apparatus  of 
executive  and  judicial  power  must  be  brought  into 
play,  numerous  criminal  proceedings  instituted,  and 
civil  ejectments  must  follow;    and  on  the  other,  the 


0E8. 

iw  Harnp- 
;tock,  and 
bich  they 
[shed   the 
province^ 
extremely 
ieutenant 
Jailed  the 
k,   which 
sed  over, 
I  a  good 
ding  was 
;he  jail  at 
)er,  1774, 
of  Dum- 
of  oorre- 
:e,  "with 
,  the  bet- 
ileges  of 
ages  and 
3  is  ISew- 
I  concert 
•  Putney, 
;on,j  py ,; 
jail,  and 

3  it  now 
he  royai 
ratus  of 
»ht  into 
ted,  and 
;hor,  the 


EXCITEMENT  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 


191 


abandonment  of  the  proceedings  must  be  compelled 
by   the   people,   and   the  whole  machinery   of   royal 
oppression  resisted  and  stayed,  at  once  and  forever. 
Both  parties  prepared  for  the  crisis ;   and   as   the 
court  was  to  hold  its  next  session  on  the  14th  of  March, 
1775,  at  Westminster,  they  had  about  four  months  to 
make  preparations  and  arrangements.     On  the  13th  of 
March,  1775,  they  assembled  at  Westminster,  the  loyal 
officers  of  the  county  being  supported  by  their  adherents. 
The  whigs,  as  they  were  then  called,  came  also  in  con- 
siderable numbers,  and  having  learned  that  it  was  the 
private  intention  of  the  royal  party  to  get  the  first 
possession  of  the  court-house,  they  placed  therein  about 
one  hundred   men,  commanded   by  a  captain  of  the 
militia,  and  determined  to  keep  possession  until  th^ir 
gnevances  were  laid  before  the  judges  and  redressed. 
J^ear  the  setting  of  the  sun,  the  sheriff  came  with  his 
pos,e,  part  of  whom  were  armed  with  muskets,  and 
d«-anded  admittance;  which  was  refused,  unless  he 
would  order  his  men  to  lay  aside  their  arms.    About 
ten  o'clock  at  night,  the  chief  justice  came  among 
them,   and    assuring  their  captain  that  no  attempt 
should   be  made  to  molest  them  until  morning,  the 
latter  withdrew  the  principal  part  of  his  force,  leav- 
ing only  a  small  body  of  men,  armed  with  bludgeons ; 
among  whom  was  William  French,  a  young  farmer, 
not  twenty-two  years   of  age,  who  lived   in  Brattle- 
borough.    The  people  of  that  town,  who  lived  in  his 
immediate  neighborhood,  were  of  the  opposite  party, 
and,  indeed,  some  of  them  were  in  the  sheriff's  band  • 
that  officer  being  himself  an  inhabitant  of  the  town! 
French,  who  generally  acted  with  his  friends  in  Dum 


w 
i 

!'!■    A 

f 


I 


I.  *      1 


■  '■ 


i'   ' 


\  ''i 


II 


102        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MOD^TAIN  DEKOEfl. 

merston,  appears,  thougli  holding  no  official  station,  to 
have  been  much  esteemed  lor  his  honesty,  bravery  and 
patriotism;  and  the  treatment  he  afterward  received 
from  his  opponents,  sufficiently  attests  how  much  they 
feared  his  influence.  About  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  the 
persons  appointed  to  watch  reported  that  the  sheriff, 
with  an  armed  force,  was  approaching,  and  means  were 
taken  to  prevent  his  coming  into  the  house. 

When  he  came  up,  he  again  demanded   entrance, 
and  was  refused  as  before.    lie  then  ordered  his  men 
to  fire,  which  they  did  by  aiming  above  the  heads  of 
the  people  within ;  but  finding  that  this  produced  no 
effect,  he  repeated   his  order,  and   the  muskets  were 
leveled  and  discharged  with  such  effect,  that  the  de- 
fenders were  driven  back,  and  the  assailants  rushed 
into  the  house,  and  commenced  a  horrid  butchery  upon 
the  defenseless  men.    William  French,  in  facing  them, 
received  five  bullet-wounds  in  different  places :  in  hia 
thigh,  leg,  mouth,  face  and  forehead.     Several  others 
were  severely  wounded  ;  and  one,  Daniel  Houghton, 
was  shot  through  the  body,  and  after  lingering  a  few 
days,  expired.     About  twenty,  who  had  not  retreated, 
including   the  wounded,  were  seized  and   inhumanly 
thrust  into  prison  ;  and  the  bleeding  body  of  the  dying 
French  was  dragged  to  the  prison-door,  and   thrown 
in  among  them,  with  circumstances  of  the  most  cruel 
insult  and  brutality. 

The  court  was  opened  at  the  usual  hour  on  the  next 
morning,  with  something  like  triumphal  ceremony,  and 
adjourned  formally  until  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 
But  that  court  never  reassembled.  The  news  of  the 
murder  spread  with  great  rapidity,  and   before  the 


ation,  to 
'erj  and 
received 
leh  they 
ight,  the 
I  sheriff, 
ins  were 

ntrance, 
his  men 
eads  of 
jced  no 
ts  were 
the  de- 
rushed 
rj  upon 
g  them, 
:  in  his 
others 
ughton, 
^  a  few 
treated, 
amanly 
i  dying 
thrown 
t  cruel 

le  next 
ly,  and 
jrnoon. 
of  the 
re  the 


WILLIAM  FRKICCri. 


193 


appomted  hour,  the  people  were  rushing  to  the  scene 
rem  all   directions.    The  principal  aggressors  took 
^e  ^arm,  and   fled   precipitately.     On  the  15th  of 
March,  an  inquest  was  held  on  the  body  of  French 
and  on  the  sam.  day  it  was  committed  to  the  ground! 
n  the  common  burial-place  at  Westminster -the  mili- 
tia  from  the  neighboring  towns  attending,  and  firinr 
volleys  over  his  grave.    A  tombstone  was  soon  brought 
irom  Dammerston,  bearing  an  inscription  peculiarly 
illustrative  of  the  times,   and  placed   at  the  head^ 
where  it  still  remains.     Being  of  slate,  taken  from 
the  quarry  near  his  residence,  it  is  not  of  the  most 
enduring  character,  but  quite  liable  to  injury  and 
decay.    For,  while  the  face  of  the  stone  retaL  to 
this  day  the  "rude  but  emphatic  inscription,"  the  rains 
and  snows  of  nearly  eighty  winters,  lodging  on  the 
top,  have  percolated  between  the  layers,  and  partially 
separated  them;  so  that,  if  they  had  not  been  r^ 
tamed  together  by  a  small  rivet  of  lead,  inserted 
oy  no  one  knows  who  or  when,  the  whole  must  lonr 
emce  have  crumbled  and  been  lost.*    With  th.  buria^ 

.onrir^'"' '''''"''''  ^^^^-^^'^^  ^"-^p*^-  "p-  *^e  - 

In  Memory  of  William  French 
Son  of  Mr  Nathaniel  French  Who 
Was  shot  at  Westminster  March  ye  1 3th 
1775  by  the  hands  of  Cruel  Ministereal 
tools  of  George  ye  3d  in  the  Corthouse  at 
a  11  a  Clock  at  Night  in  the  22d  year  of 
his  Age 

Here  WiUiam  French  his  Body  lies 

9 


.'  1 


1E 
"I 


194        ETITAN  ALIJJN  AND  OREKN-MODNTAIN  HEROES. 

of  William  French,  wore  buried  the  hopes  of  aubju 
gaci/ig  the  men  who  dwelt  on  the  hills  and  in  the 
val'i6/o  of  the  Green  Mountains.  The  spirit  of  re- 
sisting oppression  to  the  last  extremity,  awakened  by 
his  death,  was  never  extinguished ;  and  within  two 
years  from  that  time,  there  was  proclaimed  from  the 
same  building  in  which  he  was  martyred,  the  decla- 
ratioii  of  the  independence  of  Vermont. 

Highly  irritated  by  the  massacre  of  William  French, 
a  committee  of  the  larger  portion  of  the  people  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Green  Mountains  met  at  Westminster, 
April  11,  1775,  and  adopted  the  following  resolution  : 
"Voted,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  said  inhabitants,  as 
predicated  on  the  eternal  and  immutable  law  of  self- 
preservation,  to  wholly  renounce  and  resist  the  admin- 
istration of  the  government  of  New  York,  till  such  time 
as  the  lives  and  property  of  those  inhabitants  may 
be  secured  by  it ;  or  till  such  time  as  they  can  have 
opportunity  to  lay  their  grievances  before  his  most 
gracious  Majesty  in  council,  together  with  a  proper 
remor46tranw»-  against  the  unjustifiable  conduct  of  that 
goveriimei^. ,  with  an  humble  petition  to  be  taken  out 
of  so  oppressive  a  jurisdiction,  and  either  annexed  to 
some  otner  government,  or  erected  and  incorporated 
into  a  new  one,  as  may  appear  best  to  the  said  inhab- 
itants, to  the  royal  wisdom  and  clemency,  and  till 
Buch  time  as  his  Majesty  shall  settle  this  controversy." 

For  Murder  h's  blood  for  Vengance  cries 
Kii;e  Ocorg  the  third  his  Tory  crew 
tha  with  a  bawl  his  head  Shot  threw 
For  Liberty  and  his  Countrys  Good 
be  Lost  bis  Life  his  Dearest  blood 


SUSPENSION  „F  THE  CONTIlOTERaT.  I95 

What  would  have  been  the  final  result  of  the  con 

iTTu     """"  ^"'•'''  ""-^   •""  "•«  atteu ton Tf 
the  people  been  diverted  from  the  subjeet  by  one  o 

b  ra'nT'"""'  ""  ""''  "^  """J-'-^     B  ' 
the     L  "     T'"  """"'"'"^  controversy,  involving 
1.  i^'^T  r"'   °^  "">  ^'■»'''  American    people 


if.  '■  n 


i '  :*i 


f  y 


CHAPTER  III. 

ETHAN    ALLEN. 

"The  mountains  green  that  witnessed  first  hia  fame, 
From  rocks  to  rocks  resounded  far  his  name. 
As  the  tough  horn«boam,  (peering  o'er  those  rocks,) 
With  gnarled  grain  the  riving  thunder  mocks, 
Indignant  Allen,  manacled  in  vain, 
With  soul  revolting,  bit  the  British  chain." 

HUMPHBKTB. 

The  American  Revolution  called  forth  the  latent 
energies  of  many  Individ ualo,  who  would,  in  a  more 
peaceable  state  oi  political  affairs,  have  slumbered  in 
obscurity,  and  gone  down  to  the  grave  unhonored  and 
unknown.  The  very  nature  of  tlie  policy  of  Great 
Britain  toward  this  country  —  a  policy  every  way 
tyrannical  and  oppressive — was  calculated  to  call  into 
action  the  efforts  of  every  friend  of  liberty.  It  was  an 
attempt  to  strip  the  people  of  their  rights,  and  manacle 
them  with  the  fetters  of  slavery.  But,  thanks  to  the 
spirit  which  prevailed  among  our  fathers  —  thanks  to 
the  patriotism  which  then  warmed  the  hearts  of  the 
people  —  the  mercenaries  of  a  foreign  power  vi'ere 
unequal  to  the  task  of  accomplishing  the  designs  of 
their  masters.  True-hearted  volunteers  rallied  to  the 
calls  of  the  brave  and  wise  men  of  our  country, 
imbued  with  a  spirit  worthy  of  the  little  band  which 
defended  the  pass  of  Thermopylae.  The-^  fought  and 
conquered ;   and   their  declining  years  were  cheered 


trruAM  Ai,ijar. 


m 


wia.  the  knowlclj..    .l.at  th„  country  for  whicl  U.ey 

nnd     Ijauuy    and    that   'hnir   ,1.    i  i"-'>^u» 

runombered.  *^''  *"''*  S™"^"'^)' 

Perhaps  no  individual,  of  equal  advantages,  and  in 
the  tut  on  ho  occupied,  contributed  more  toward 
™1  'It  "';  ""•^l"""'--  of  our  country,  Zn 

le  r    id    "•    ^"°  T"  "'  ""  poop'"  -""/wbom 
be  resided,  were  rude  and  uncultivated;  yet  bold  in 

sp.nt,  and  zealous  in  action.    It  consequently  fcllowed 

aU,o  one  but  a  man  of  strong  natural  endowmir- 

ZTrT-    r'"'°°'  """'^^  ""^  ^™^  ^ry-com  control 
.e,r  prc3,^,ces  and  iudinations.    H.-.bit  bad  rendered 

frl   a  s  '  """  "°  P"""^'  ""'-«  P-ceeding 

trom  a  source  m  which  they  bad  confidence  ever 
gained  their  approbation  IJnm,  A' »„  '^''<=«'  ever 
-  undonbte^dfand  .Uos^'Z^l^:  TZ 
ITtT:  T'n^''^ -''--'edged,  tbey  iJpVei  ly 
pe  if;     H    '  f1    "°"'  ^™  '"  '"'^o.^ity  and  pros 

unvi.lL    "*"""'  0"^  *00'  ''0  """S  ever  the  same 
unyeld  ng  advocate  of  the  rights  of  man,  and  uni 

Sc  :  t^,    '''  ''°''"^'  '''-^-.  "^  Ci    a 
benehual  to  the  common  cause  of  American  libertv 

From    the  commencement  of  our   revolntionarv 

ruggle  until  its  ti„a,  dose,  Ethan  Allen  pled  ^ 

eao  sand  strenuous  supporter  of  the  cause.  Vhether 

-.the  held  or  council -whether  at  home,  a  freemau 


Ri  ' 


ji'i 


!«»i 


m  'i 


M 


Mm 


198       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

among  the  mountams  of  Vermont,  or  loaded  with  the 
manacleo  of  despotism  in  a  foreign  country,  his  spirit 
never  quailed  beneath  the  sneer  of  the  tory.  or  the 
harsh  threats  of  insolent  authority.    A  stranger  to 
fear,  his  opinions  were  ever  given  without  disguise  or 
hesitation;  and,  an  enemy  to  oppression,  he  sought 
every  opportunity  to  redress  the  wrongs  of  the  op- 
pressed.   It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  he 
was  faultless.    Like  other  men,  he  had  his  errorr  — 
like  other  men,  his  foibles  ;  yet  he  was  not  willfully 
stubborn  in  either.    When  convinced  of  an  erroneous 
position,  he  was  over  willing  to  yield ;  but,  in  theory, 
as  in  practice,  ht  contested  every  inch  of  ground ;  and 
only  yielded,  when  he  had  no  weapons  left  to  meet 
his  antagonist.    This  trait  in  his  character  serves,  at 
least,  to  prove  that  he  was  honest  in  his  conclusions, 
however  erroneous    the    premises  from  which  they 
were  deduced. 

The  period  at  which  we  Have  now  arrived  in  the 
life  of  Ethan  Allen,  places  him  in  a  more  conspicuous 
and  interesting  position  before  the  reader.    Heretofore 
he  has  been  seen  only  as  the  zealous  friend  of  the 
section  in  which  he  resided— as   the   champion   of 
the  humble  citizen,  contending  for  the  rights  of  indi- 
vidual property,  and  private  justice.    In  these  offices 
of  friendship  and  duty,  however,  he  had  ever  the  con- 
fidence and  the  esteem  of  his  neighbors.     He  had 
evinced  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  and  a  love  of  freedom, 
which  warmly  recommended  him  to  the  notice  and 
the  admiration    of   the    most  determined   and   able 
advocates  of  American  liberty.     That  he  should  have 
been  selected,  therefore,  as  the  leader  in  an  enterprise 


REVIEW  or  COLuXIAL  UISroKY. 


199 


of  the  highest  moment  to  the  cause  of  libertv,  wa. 
ahke  due  to  his  principles,  his  services,  and  his 
position.  ' 

_  A  hastj  glance  at  the  posture  of  affairs  at  this 
juncture,  however  well  the  reader  may  be  acquainted 
with  It  cannot  be  improper.    During  the  seventy-one 
years  from  1689  to  1760,  the  colonies  were  involved 
m  i..ur  wars,  occupying,  in  all,  twenty-seven  years; 
not  to  allude  to  the  interminable  hostilities  which  racred 
between   them    and   the    Indian  tribes,   along  their 
frontier  settlements.     Yet,  in  this  period,  the  ^opula- 
tion  had   increased   from   two  hundred   thousand   to 
about  three  millions.      The  arts  and  manufactures, 
being  opposed  by  the  mother  country,  made  but  little 
progress ;    but  there  was  a  steady  advancement  in 
agriculture.  Trade  and  commerce  had  gone  on  greatly 
mcreasing-so  much  that,  in  the  ten  years  preceding 
the  revolutionary  war,  the  average  annual  exports,  to 
Orreat  Britain  and  elsewhere,  amounted  to  four  million 
pounds  sterling,  and  the  imports,  to  three  and  a  half 
millions.     In  the  mean  time,  colleges,  and  other  supe- 
rior institutions  of  learning,  had  been  established  in 
nearly  all  the  colonies,  and  popular  instruction  pro- 
vided for,  especially  in  Kew  England.    The  country 
was  advancing  in  intellectual  culture ;  and,  more  than 
all,  the  necessity  of  uniting  for  the  common  defense 
and  the  intercourse  of  the  colonies  that  grew  out  of  it' 
had  tended  to  create  a  national  spirit,  which  the  events' 
of  the  twelve  years  succeeding  the  peace  of  1760,  still 
further  developed  and  strengthened. 

The  colonists,  from  the  first,  always   cherished  a 
jealous  .ense  of  their  rights.    As  early  as  the  middle 


i    ' 


ii, 


II  I 


5 
* 

r  I 


,-,,  , 


S^f 


200        ETIIAB  ilLEU  Afil;  GHEEN-MOUNTAIN  EEEOES. 

Of  the  seventeenth  century,  it  was  a  settled  doctrine 
among  them,  that  the  authority  of  parliament  was 
lim.ted  to  the  regulation   of  trade,  and  that  tazes 
conld  not  be  imposed  upon  them  without  their  own 
consent.    Previous,  indeed,  to  the  peace  of  Paris,  the 
home  government  had  never  attempted  to  interfere 
with  mternal  taxation.    For  a  centmy,  however,  be- 
fore  that  event,  a  variety  of  restrictions  had,  from 
time  (0  time,  been  imposed  upon  the  trade  of  the  colo- 
mes  ;  the  object  of  which  was  to  oblige  the  colonists 
to  buy  and  sell  exclusively  in  the  English  markets. 
Colonial  manufactures  were  also,  in  every  possible 
way,  discouraged.    These  restrictions  produced  much 
discontent.    In  1764,  the  first  act  avowedly  for  the 
purpose  of  raising  a  revenue  in  America  was  passed 
m  pariiament.    This  was  followed,  the  next  year,  by 
the  famous   "stamp  act,"  making  illegal  all  deeds, 
mortgages,  bonds,  notes,  and  other  instruments  of  a 
like  character,  unless  written  upon  stamped  paper    • 
upon  which  a  duty  to  the  cro'wn  was  imposed,  varying 
in  amount  with  the  transaction  which  they  represented 
Ihese  acts  excited  great  displeasure  throughout  the 
colonies;  and  in  October,  1763,  a  congress  of  delegates 
from  Rhode  Island,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Wew 
York   New  Jersey,  Maryland,  and  North  and  South 
Carolina,  mer  at  New  York,  and  passed  several  reso- 
lutions  acknowledging  the  rightful  authority  of  parlia- 
ment   but   denou-cing    the    stamp    act,   and    other 
en.actments  of  the  kind,  as  subversive  of  the  just 
rights  and  liberties  of  the  colonists,  as  natural-born 
English  subjects.    The  proceedings  of  this  body  were 
sanctioned  by  „i|  the  colonies.   The  public  indignation 


KESI8TAN01  TO  TAXATIOS.  JOJ 

inflamed  by  newspapers,  pamphlets,  and  popular  meet. 
>ngs,  rose  to  the  highest  pitch.     Combinations  were 
everywhere  fonned,  to  abstain  from  using  articles  of 
Bnush  manufacture,  and,  in  every  way,  to  oppose  the 
measures  ot  the  home  government.    The  officer,  ap- 
pom ted  under  the  stamp  act  were,  in  many  places^ 
.n^ulted,  abused,  and  forced  to  resigu;  and  when  th 
t  me  amved  for  the  act  to  go  into  operation,  neither 
stamps  nor  stamp-officers  were  to  be  found.    Business 
of  all  kmds  requiring  stamps,  was,  for  a  time,  sus- 
pended;  law-proceedings  were  stayed,  and  the  courts 
were  closed.    The  next  year  the  stamp  act  was  re- 
pealed;  although  the  repeal  was  accompanied   by  a 
declaration  of  the  "right  of  parliament  to  bind  the 
colonies  in  all  cases  whatsoever."     In  a  few  month, 
from  this  time,  a  new  ministry  came  into  power,  and  a 
new  plan   for  taxing   America  was  introduced  into 
par. anient:   that  of  levying  a  tax  on  glass,  paper, 
pasteboard,  painters'  colors,  and   tea,  imported  Lo 
the  colonies.     To  enforce  this  law,  a  body  of  troops 
was  se.it  out,  and  quartered  in  Boston.    These  meas- 
ures produced  great  exasperation  in  the  colonies,  and 
ed  to  combinations  against  using  the  articles  subjected 
to  duty.    In  1770,  this  act  was  repealed,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  duty  on  tea.    The  colonists  were  only 
the  more  decided  in  renouncing  the  use  of  that  article. 

.t\  .  T  i^  """""  "'''  f"''"^  '"  "73,  alluwing 
the  East-India  company  a  remission  of  certain  govern- 
ment  charges  on  the  tea  they  should  send  to  America, 
which  would  enable  them  to  sell  tea  to  the  colonistj 
cheaper  than  they  could  sell  it  in  England.  This  was 
'Jone  with  the  hope  of  inducin.  the  colonists  to  return 


4    ! 


n  1 


202 


BiHAN  ALLEN  AiTO  GEEEN-MOUNTAI^  HEE0E8. 


to  the  use  of  the  article.    In  this  submission  to  the  tax 
upon   tea,  it  was   expected   that  the  principle,  that 
parliament  had  a  right  to  tax  the  colonists,  would  be 
adopted  ;  and  the  waj  would  be  open  for  indiscrimi- 
nate  and  oppressive  taxation.    Large  shipments  of  tea 
^v-ere  accordingly  made ;  but  the  Americans  refused  to 
pay  the  shght  duty  upon  it.    The  cargoes  sent  to  New 
York    and    Philadelphia,   were  not    suffered   to   be 
landed  ;  in  Charleston,  it  was  not  allowed  to  be  sold  • 
and,  at  Boston,  it  was  thrown  into  the  harbor,  by  a 
party  of  men  disguised  as  Indians.    These  proceedings 
excited  the  fierce  displeasure  of  the  British  govern- 
ment,  especially  against  Boston  ;  and  in  March  1774 
I'the  Boston  port  bill,"  so  called,  was  passed,  prohibit- 
ing all  commercial  intercourse  with  that  city.    Another 
bill  subverted   the  charter-government  of  J^assachu- 
setts,   vesting  the  appointment    of   the  council  and 
judges  in  the  crown ;  and  a  third,  shortly  after,  em- 
powered  the  governor  to  send  persons  indicted   for 
capital  offenses,  to  another  colony,  or  to  Great  Britain, 
for   trial.    These  violent  proceedings  awakened   the 
greatest    indignation   throughout  the   colonies.      All 
made  common  cause  with  Massachusetts.    In  the  fall 
of  1774,  a  general  congress  met  at  Philadelphia,  and 
adopted  a  declaration  of  rights  and  grievances,  and 
agreed  to  an  entire  suspension  of  all  commercial  inter- 
course with  Great  Britain,  until  the  repeal  of  the  acts 
of  which  they  complained.      They  likewise  voted  an 
address  to  the  king ;   another  to  the  people  of  Great 
Britain,  and   a  third   to  the  inhabitants  of  Canada. 
These    peaceful    measures    for    redress    proving    in- 
effectual,  the  feeling  of  the  necessity  of  resisting  by 


BLOODSHED  AT  LEXINGTON.  203 

force  became  quite  general  in  the  colonies.     Prepara- 
tions began  to  be  made ;  warlike  stores  were  collected 
and  the  people  began  to  arm.     In    Massachusetts,' 
Governor  Gage  had  convoked  the  legislative  assembly 
but  afterward  judged  it  expedient  to  countermand  the 
meeting.      Notwithstanding  this,  the  assembly   con- 
vened,   and,   the,  governor  not   appearing,  organized 
themselves,  and  adopted  a  plan  for  the  defense  of  the 
province.    They  resolved   to  raise  a  force  of  twelve 
thousand  men,  and  to  request  the  other  Kew-England 
states  to  increase  the  number  to  twenty  thousand. 
Early  the  next  year,  (1775)  parliament,  in  spite  of  the 
conciliatory  counsels  of  the  Earl   of  Chatham,  pro- 
ceeded to  pass  a  bill  restraining  still  further  the  trade 
of  New  England.    Soon  after,  restrictions  were  im- 
posed upon  the  middle  and  southern  colonies,  except 
JNew  Fork,  Delaware,  and  Korth   Carolina.      Tiiese 
exceptions  were  made  with  a  view  to  produce  dissen- 
Bions  among  the  colonies;  but  it  failed  of  its  object. 
Ihis  bimgs  us  to  the  commencement  of  actual   hos- 
tilities.    General  Gage,  the  royal  governor  of  Massa- 
chusetts, sent  a  detachment  of  eight  hundred  soldiers 
to  destroy  some  military  stores  which  were  deposited 
at  Concord.     On  their  way,  they  arrived  at  Lexington, 
on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  where  they 
tound  a  company  of  provincial  militia  assembled  on 
parade.    This  company,  not  instantly  obeying  an  or- 
der  to   throw  down   their  arms   and    disperse,  were 
tred   upon,  and  eight  of  their  number  killed.     The 
detachment  proceeded  to  Concord,  and  destroyed  the 
stores,  though  not  without  opposition  and  bloodshed. 
But  the  spirit  of  the  people  was  up;  and  on  their 


:l»' 


la 


pnill;' 


!i 


ililNln 


'.  m 


ft'  *    ■  i: 


mm 


!3|i'*=: 


i::^ 


'204:       ETIJAN  ALLEN  AIS^D  OKEEN-MOU.NTAIN  IIEEOES. 


return  to  Boston,  the  British 


were  harassed  the  whole 


way,  and  continually  fired  upon  from  behind  walls, 
buildings  and  fences.  The  Britisli  loss,  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  amounted  to  nearly  three' 
hundred  ;  the  American,  to  less  than  one-third  of  that 
number. 

The  vigilant  patriots   of  Massachusetts,   then   the 
very  hot-bed  of  rebellion,  early  perceived  the  neces- 
sity of  securing  Ticonderoga  the  moment  hostilities 
should   commence.    Early  in   March,   17i5,   Samuel 
Adams  and  Joseph  Warren,  members   of  the  com- 
mittee of   correspondence  of  Boston,  sent  a  secret 
agent  into  Canada,  to  ascertain    the  opinions  and 
temper  of  the  people  of  that  province,  concerning  the 
great  questions  at  issue,  and   the  momentous  events 
then   pending.     After  a   diligent   but  cautious   per- 
formance  of  this  delicate  task,  the  agent  sent  word  to 
them   from   Montreal,  that  the  people  were,  at  best, 
lukewarm;  and  advised   that,  the  moment  hostilities 
commenced,  Ticonderoga  and  its  garrison  should   be 
sejzed.    This  advice  was  coupled  with  the   positive 
assertion,  that    the    people    of   the   New-Hampshire 
Grants  were  ready  to  undertake  the  bold  enterprise. 
Within  three  weeks  after  this  information  was  received 
by  Adams   and    Warren,  the    battle    of   Lexington 
occurred.     This    event   aroused    the   whole    country, 
and  the  patriots  flocked  from  all  quarters  to  Boston. 
The^  provincial  assembly  of  Connecticut  was  then  in 
session,  and  a  plan  was  there  concerted  for  surprising 
Ticonderoga,  and  seizing  the  cannon  in  that  fortress 
lor  the  use  of  the  army  then  gathering  in  the  vicinity 
ot    Boston.      The  whole  p.an  and   proceedings  were 


r  ! 


i<'( 


EXPEDITION   AGAIK8T  TICONDEROGA.  205 

of  a  private  character,  without    th^       ur 
of  the   asse.M„  t.  ^^i^^^  £  CLZ^I 
tact  approbation.    A  com„,ittee  was  appo  ,  ted  w^L 
instructions  to  proceed  fn  th.  f      .-      ^^^'"^^^'  ^^^^ 

%htee„  hundred  doiia^reretpp^d"  Z;:'- 

that  ;  7  *?''"  ^^P'-"'^^^  «f  ""^  -Pedition.    On 
Ethan   1^,       ^"'"""8'°"'  to   Jay  their  plans  before 

Sm  betiTnrrt:;:;;'"'^  r^--  '^^^^  - 

was  Colonel  ^aiefi^'S^ 

expedition;  Colonel  Lt^^strorertrdt 
command,   and    Spfh    w  F^mcea  second  m 

Weeni^^^^^^ 

o:r.bts:rir::-^^^^^^^ 

it  was   ti-ere  decided    that   Colonel  I   '„   a"     tl"" 

Ticondero,a;  that  Capiin  B^:;^^:^: 

tie  ha?  Tr\  "'^^"-"--g".  (now  Whifeha  J 

me  t  of  m1-      ..   '  '""™'"^'°'  ^^'^^  '''^  -'"Wish! 
ment  of  Major  Skene,  and  hasten  with  the  boats  and 

and  that  Captain  Drylas  should   T,ror..»d  to  Panf^, 
and  secure  every  boat  or  bateau  ;hat":holM":' 


'iff 


206        E7'HAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MOtJNTAIN  HEROES. 


!i' 


f:   ii 


M  I 


his  way.  They  were  joined  at  Castleton  by  Colonel 
Benedict  Arnold,  who,  in  the  French  wars,  had 
greatly  distinguished  himself,  at  the  battles  in  the 
vicinity  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point.  Possess- 
ing great  genius,  a  restless  character,  and  an  intre- 
pidity bordering  upon  madness,  he  seems  to  have 
conceived  the  same  plan.  To  this  end,  he  had  con- 
ferred with  the  committee  of  safety  of  Massachusetts, 
who  appointed  him  colonel,  with  authority  to  enlist 
volunteers  for  the  attempt  to  capture  Ticonderoga. 
In  pursuance  of  this  arrangement  he  proceeded  to 
Castleton,  and  his  surprise  was  extreme  at  finding 
himself  anticipated.  But,  as  nothing  could  delight 
him  more  than  to  engage  in  this  hazardous  service 
he  consented,  after  being  assured  that  the  Green 
Mountain  Boys  would  serve  only  under  their  favorite 
leader,  to  put  himself  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Allen.  It  was  deemed  essential  to  the  success  of 
the  enterprise,  that  it  should  be  conducted  with  pro- 
found secrecy,  and  sentinels  were  posted  upon  all  the 
roads,  to  prevent  any  rumor  of  their  approach  from 
reaching  the  menaced  point.  Allen,  with  his  little 
army,  reached  £horeham,  opposite  Ticonderoga,  on 
the  night  of  May  9th,  1775.  It  wp3  important  to 
have  a  guide  who  was  acquainted  with  the  grcjunds 
around  the  fortress,  and  the  places  of  access.  Allen 
made  inquiries  as  to  those  points,  of  Mr.  Beman,  a 
farmer  residing  on  the  shore  of  the  lake.  He  replied 
that  he  seldom  crossed  to  Ticonderoga,  and  had  no 
special  knowledge  in  regard  to  the  internal  arrange- 
ment of  the  fortress  ;  but  that  his  son  Nathan,  a  young 
lad,  passed  much  of  his  time  there  in  company  with 


Ifii         !!| 


ATFACK  ON  TICONDEROGA. 


307 


on 


the  hoys  ot  the  garrison.    .Tathan  was  called,  and  ap 

peared  bv  h.s  answers  to  be  fan.iliar  with  e;er,  p  ^, 

ot  the  fort   and  every  passage  by  which  it  could  be 

approached.    In  the  opinion  of  Ethan  Allen,  he  was 

the  very  person  to  guide  him  in  the  enterprise  and  by 

he  consent  of  his  father,  and  a  little  peL.asion,  Na^ 

than   Beman  was  engaged   for  that  purpose.    But  a 

senous  difficulty  now  occurred.     They  had  but  a  few 

boats,  and  none  had  been  sent  from  Skenesborough  or 

and  eightj^threo  men  had  crossed  the  lake.  Delay 
was  hazardous,  for  the  garrison,  if  aroused,  wouW 
mate  stout  resistance.  Allen,  therefore,  resolved  not 
to  wait  for  the  rear  division  to  cross,  but  to  attack  the 
tort  at  once.  lie  drew  up  bis  men  in  three  ranks  upon 
the  shore  and  in  low  but  distinct  tones,  briefly  la- 
rangued  them;  and  then,  placing  himself  at  their  head, 

TLr     J."  """'  '^'^  ""'•^''^d  <!'>"=%  bu 
stealthily  up  the  height  to  the  sally-port.    The  seminel 

^napped  h,s  fusee  at  the  commander,  but  it  missed 
fire  and  he  retreated  within  the  fort  under  a  covered 
way.    The  Americans  followed   close  upon  his  heels 
and  were  thus  guided  by  the  alarmed  fugitive  directly' 
to    he  para  e  within  the    barracks.     Ihere  anoth  ^ 
sentinel  made  a  thrust  at  Colonel  Easton,  but  a  blow 
upon  the  head  from  Allen's  sword  made  him  beg  foT 
quarter,  and  the  patriots  met  with  no  further  resist- 
ance.    As  they  rushed  into  the  parade,  they  gave  a 
remendous  shout,  and  filing  off  into  two  dirtsions. 
formed  a  ine  of  forty  men  along  each  of  the  two  range 
of  barracks.     The  aroused  garrison  leaped  from  their 
pallets,  seized  their  arms  and  rushed  for  the  parade 


npf 

#*i 

r  '1 

11' 


^^^K!  IT 

1 1  • 

^^K' ' 

^^B-  -'' 

i 

i 
1 

Hfi' 

H  ' 

\ 

Ht 

! 

i.li    ,L„.  ,.    , 

208        KTIIAX  AIJ,EN  ANT)  GKKEN-MOUNTAIN  llKiin'.Ji. 

but  only  to  be  made  prisoners  by  the  intrepid  New- 
England  ere.     Allen   demanded   to  be  shown    to  the 
apartment  of  Captain  Delaplace,  the  commandant  of 
the  garrison.    It  was  pointed  out,  and  Colonel  Allen, 
with  Nathan  Bernan  at  his  elbow,  who  knew  the  way, 
hastily  ascended  the  stairs,  which  were  attached  to  the 
outside  of  the  barracks,  and  called  out  with  a  voice  of 
thunder  at  the   door,  ordering  the  astonished  captain 
instantly  to  appear,  or  the  whole  garrison  should  be 
sacrificed !     Startled  at   so  strange  and   unexpected  n 
summons,  he  sprung  from  his  bed  and  opened  the  door, 
when  the  first  salutation  of  his  boisterous  and  unsea- 
sonable visitor  was  an  order  immediately  to  surrender 
the  fort.     Kubbing  his  eyes  and  trying  to  collect  his 
scattered  senses,  the  captain  asked  by  what  authority 
he  presumed  to  make  such  a  demand.     "In  the  name 
of  the  Great  Jehovah  and  the  Continental  Congress !" 
replied  Allen.*    The   commandant   began   to   remon- 
strate, but  Colonel  Allen  cut  short  the  thread  of  his 
discourse  by  lifting  his  sword  over  his  head,  and  reit- 
erating the  demand  for  an  immediate  surrender.     Hav- 
ing neither  permission  to  argue  nor  power  to  resist, 
Captain  Delaplace  submitted,  ordering  his  men  to  pa- 
rac'e  without  arms,  and  the  garrison  was  given  up  to 

*This  is  the  language  of  Allen  as  given  by  himself  in  his  narrative. 
But  it  was  asserted  by  those  who  stood  near  him,  that  his  demand  wag 
enforced  by  an  emphatic  oath.  Lossing  [see  "  Field-Book  of  the  Revo- 
lution,"] was  told  by  the  surviving  brother  of  a  man  named  Rice,  who 
stood  at  Allen's  side,  that  he  exclaimed,  "  In  the  name  of  the  Great  Je- 
hovah and    the   Continental   Congress,    by ."     "  Delaplace,"   says 

Lossing,  "  had  about  as  much  r'ispect  for  the  '  Continental  Congress  '  as 
Allen  had  for 'Jehovah,' and  they  respectively  relied  upon  a»  i  feaiwi 
powder  and  ball  more  than  either." 


OAPTTTRK  OF  CROWN  POINT. 


209 


J" 


«.o  Victors     It  is  a  singular  fact  that  the  "  Continental 
Congress,    instead  of  authorizing  Allen  to  take  Ticon- 
deroga,  were  entirely  ignorant  of  the  enterprise,  and 
did  not  meet  for  organization  until  six  hours  after  the 
surrender  of  the  fortress.    This  achievement,  besides 
being  the  first  on  the  part  of  the  patriots,  was  of  the 
utmost  importance.    Ticonderoga  and   Crown  Point 
commanded  the  great  avenue  between  Canada  and 
the  other  colomes,  and  its  possession  gave  the  Ameri- 
cans  facilities  for  the  subsequent  brilliant  campaign  in 
Canada  and  the  military  spoils  taken  by  Allen  were 
of  mcalculable    benefit  to   the  army    near   Boston. 
These  spoils  consisted  of  one   hundred   and   twenty 
pieces  of  iron  cannon,  fifty  swivels,  ten  tons  of  musket- 
balls  three  cart-loads  of  flints,  thirty  new  carriages,  a 
considerable   quantity  of  shells,  a  warehouse  full   of 
material  tor  boat-building,  and   a  large  quantity  of 
other  stores.  '' 

Warner  crossed  the  lake  with  the  rear  division,  and 
marched  up  to  the  fort  just  after  the  surrender  was 
made.    He  was  immediately  dispatched  against  Crown 
i^oint,  but  a  strong  head-wind  drove  his  boats  back 
and  he   returned  to  Ticonderoga,    He  renewed  the' 
attempt  on  the  12th  of  May,  and  succeeded  in  obtain- 
ing possession  of  the  fortress  without  bloodshed.    Thus 
another  strong  position  was  secured,  and  a  great  addi- 
tion was  made  to  the  munitions  of  war  acquired  at  Ti- 
conderoga.    Previous  to  this  affair.  Colonel  Allen  had 
sent  a  messenger  to  Captain  Remember  Baker,  who 
was  at  Winooski  River,  requesting  him  to  join  the  army 
at  Ticonderoga  with  as  large  a  number  of  men  as  he 
oouia  assemble.    Baker   obeyed   the  summons ;   and 


T 


IS     ill  I 


m    q  ! 

1.  ,^ 

'1  I 

1    M 

h 

hi 


210       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OREEN-MOUNTAIN  IIKKOES. 

wlieii  ho  was  coming  U})  the  lake  with  his  party,  he 
met  two  small  boats,  which  had  been  dispatched  from 
Crown  l*oint  to  carry  intelligence  of  the  reduction  of 
Ticonderoga  to  St.  John's  and  Montreal,  and  solicit  re- 
intlyrcements.  The  boats  were  seized  by  Baker,  and 
ho  arrived  at  Crown  Point  just  in  time  to  unite  with 
Warner  in  taking  possession  of  that  post.  Thus  tho 
main  object  of  the  expedition  was  attained  ;  but  the 
troubles  of  the  leaders  were  noi;  at  an  end.  No  sooner 
had  the  fort  surrendered,  than  Arnold  assumed  the 
command,  affirming  that  he  was  the  only  officer  in- 
vested with  legal  authority,  llis  pretensions  were  not 
heeded,  and  although  he  was  vehement  and  positive, 
yet  it  was  in  vain  to  issue  orders  which  nobody  would 
obey ;  and  finally  he  consented  to  a  sort  of  divided 
control  between  Colonel  Allen  and  himself,  he  acting 
as  a  subordinate,  but  not  wholly  witiiout  official  con- 
sideration. 

But  the  plan  of  the  captors  of  Ticonderoga  would 
not  have  been  complete  had  they  not  secured  to  them- 
selves the  exclusive  control  of  the  lake,  to  accomplish 
which  it  was  necessary  to  take  a  corvette  tho  Eng- 
lish kept  stationed  near  St.  John's  at  the  no^th  end  of 
Lake  Champlain.  They  resolved,  therefore,  to  arm  a 
schooner,  (taken  at  Skenesborough)  for  the  purpose, 
the  command  of  which  was  given  to  Arnold,  Wx.  ■ 
Allen  was  to  follow  him  in  flat-boats  with  a  reir<foiee- 
m.ent.  The  wind  blowing  fresh  from  the  south,  the 
vessel  of  Arnold  left  the  flat-boats  far  in  the  rear.  He 
approached  the  corvette  unexpectedly,  the  captain  of 
vvhich  wa  >  far  from  apprehending  the  danger  that 
menaced    mu\   and   took    poosession    of    it    without 


PKEPARATION8    FOR   THE    WAR.  211 

resistance ;  and,  as  if  Heaven  was  pleased  to  distin- 
guish  with  evident  tokens  of  its  favor  these  first 
achievements  of  the  Americans,  the  wind  suddenly 
changed  from  south  to  north,  so  that,  in  a  few  hours, 
Colonel  Arnold  returned  safely  to  Ticonderoga. 

Colonel  Allen  exhibited  great  discretion  in  his  new 
position.      An  account  of  his  expedition  was  sent  to 
the  Massachusetts,  Connecticut    and  Kew-York  com- 
mittees  of  safety,  with  an  urgent  solicitation  for  a  re- 
inforcement of  his  brave  little  army,  and  a  supply  of 
provisions.    These  were  accordingly  sent,  and   meas- 
ures were  taken  to  organize  an  army  at  the  north  for 
the  defense  of  Lake  Champlain.    In  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  object,  and  in  the  hope  of  having  an  ex- 
pedition sent  against  Montreal  and  Quebec,  Allen  vis- 
ited the  provincial  Congress  at  New  York,  as  well  as 
the  general  Congress  at  Philadelphia.    Some  opposition 
was  made  to  his  appearance  before  the  former  of  these 
bodies,  on  account  of  the  troubles  existing  between 
New  York  and  the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  and  the 
prominent  part  taken  by  Allen  in  the  hostilities  result- 
ing from  them.    But  the  majority  felt  the  importance 
of  forgetting  local  controversies  in  the  impending  con- 
test with  the  mother  country,  and  Ethan  Allen  was 
treated  with  the  cordiality  due  to  one  engaged  with 
them  in  a  great  cause,  and  with  the  distinction  merited 
by  one  whose  services  had  been  of  the  most  important 
character.    Allen's  representation  had  immense  influ- 
ence, not  only  i.   favor  of  his  projects  for  the  conquest 
of  the  British  armv  in  Canada,  but  in  fixing  the  de- 
termination of  Congress  and  the  country  to  resist,  by 
force  of  arms,  the  tyrannical  measures  of  the  British 


212       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HER0E8. 


I. 


¥\     '•?< 


i" 


n\ 


I 


J'.      I 

■  i. 


ll.       J' 


'     i 


ill  i 


government.    While  on  his  way  to  lay  his  schemes 
before  the  Continental  Congress,  he  visited  Bennington, 
where  the  Eev.  Mr.  Dewey  preached,  before  him  and 
other  offic  rs,  a  sermon  on  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga. 
In  his  prayer,  Mr.  Dewey,  with  mr,ch  fervor,  poured 
forth  his  thanks  to  the  Lord  for  having  given  the  pos- 
session of  this  important  fortress  into  the  hands  of  a 
people  struggling  for  the  defense  of  their  dearest 
rights.     Allen  was  displeased,  and  as  the  preacher 
continued  in  this  strain  of  thanksgiving,  the  bluff  old 
hero  cried  out,  "  Parson  Dewey ! "    The  revereud  gen- 
tleman gave  no  heed  to  the  interruption.    Allen  ex- 
claimed still  louder,   "Parson  Dewey!"    But  as  the 
minister  pursued  his  prayer,  Allen  sprung  to  his  feet 
and  roared  out  in  a  voice  of  thunder,  "Parson  Dewey ! " 
The  clergyman  opened  his  eyes  and  gazed  with  aston- 
ishment at  Allen.     The  latter  then  said  with  great 
energy,  "  Parson  Dewey,  please  make  mention  of  my 
being  there ! "  * 

But  Ethan  Allen,  who  has  the  imperishable  honor  of 
achieving  the  first  momentous  enterprise  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  American  Ilevolution,  had  the  misfortune, 
soon  afterward,  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  British, 
and  to  be  carried  a  prisoner  to  England.  The  narra- 
tive of  this  captivity,  written  by  Allen  after  his  return 
to  Vermont,  will '  form  the  remainder  of  the  present 
chapter,  in  order  that  the  subsequent  history  of  the 
part  taken  by  the  Green-Mountain  Heroes  in  the 
Revolution,  may  be  given  without  interruption.     The 

•  This  anecdote  is  given  ou  the  authority  of  Aaron  Robinson,  Esq, 
son  of  Moses  Robinson,  the  second  governor  of  Vermont,  and  is  un^ 
doubtedlv  authentic 


V   ' 


NARRATIVE  OF  AI.LEn's  CAPTIVlTr.  2J3 

•'Narrative-'wasfirstpublished  in  1779.  "The  critic" 
he  eays  in  the  original  Preface,  "  will  be  pleased  to  el 
cose  any  inaccuracies  in  the  performance  itself  as 
the  author  has  unfortunately  missed  of  a  liberal  edu- 
cation.  The  Narrative,  the  faults  of  which  the  author 
60  happily  excuses,  is  here  republished,  without  alter- 
ation, from  the  original  edition  :     ■ 

NARRATIVE. 
Ever  since  I  arrived  at  the  state  of  manhood  and 
acquainted  myself  with  the  general  history  oFmanCd 
I  have  felt  a  sincere  passioS  for  liberty. -^  ThrhiSorv' 
of  nations,  doomed  to  perpetual  slavery,  in  consequence 
of  yielding  up  to  tyrants  their  natural^born  Hberties  I 
read  with  a  sort  of  philosophical  horror-  so  tSfhf 
to  systematical  an/ bloodf  attemprat  Lexington  to 

fully  deterniined   me  to  take  part  with  my  countrv 
And,  whde  I  was  wishing  for  an  opportunit/to  sS 
ze  myself  m  its  behalf,  directions  were  privatelXnt 
to  me  from  the  then  colony,  (now  state)  of  ConnccS 
cu    to  raise  the  Green-Mountain  Boys,  and,  if  possfble 
with  them  to  surprise  and  take  the  tbr  rcss  of  Sn& 
roga.    This  enterprise  I  cheerfully  undertook ;   and 
after  first  guarding  all   the  several  passes  thLtTed 
hither,  to  cut  off  alT  intelligence  betwL  the  garriol 
and  the  country,  made  a  forced  march  from  tfenn inT 
ton  and  arrived  at  the  lake  opposite  to  TiconderZ 
on  the  evening  of  the  ninth  day  of  May  1775   wfh 
two  hundred  and  thirty  valiant  rfreen-Mo-'untein%oy  • 
and  It  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  that  I  procured 
boats  to  cross  the  lake.    Howevcr.-'l  landcf  eT^Ty 
three  men  near  the  garrison,  and  sent  the  boats  baTk 
or    he  rear  guard,  commanded  by  Col.  Scth  Warner 
but  the  day  began  to  dawn,  and  I  found  myself  under 
the  neeess  ty  to  attack  the  fort,  befor™th~r  could 
cross  the  lake;   and,  as  it  was  viewed  bazZZl 

foUoZg     "'"  ''^'"''  "'"*  ^"''^'^^^  '»  'te  manner' 


:..)'! 


214       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GEEEN-MOtJNTAIN  UKROI.S. 


['         I 


ir   -i" 


"Friends  and  fellow  soldiers,  You  have,  for  a  num 
ber  of  years  past  been  a  scourge  and  terror  to  arbitrary 
power.  Your  valor  has  been  famed  abroad,  and  ac- 
knowledged, as  appears  by  the  advice  and  orders  to 
me,  from  the  General  Assembly  of  Connecticut,  to 
surprise  and  take  the  garrison  now  before  us.  I  now 
propose  to  advance  before  you,  and,  in  person,  conduct 
you  through  the  wicket-gate  ;  for  we  must  this  morning 
either  quit  our  pretensions  to  valor,  or  possess  ourselves 
of  this  fortress  in  a  few  nlnutes;  and,  inasmuch  as  it 
is  a  desperate  attempt,  which  none  but  the  bravest  of 
men  dare  undertake,  I  do  not  urge  it  on  any  contrary 
to  his  will.  You  that  will  undertake  voluntarily,  poise 
your  firelocks." 

The  men  being,  at  this  time,  drawn  up  in  three  ranks, 
each  poised  his  firelock.  I  ordered  them  to  face  to  the 
right,  and  at  the  head  of  the  centre-file,  marched  them 
immediately  to  the  wicket-gate  aforesaid,  where  I  found 
a  sentry  posted,  who  instantly  snapped  his  fusee  at 
me ;  I  ran  immediately  towards  him,  and  he  retreated 
through  the  covered  way  into  the  parade  within  the 
garrison,  gave  a  halloo,  and  ran  under  a  bomb-proof. 
My  party,  who  followed  me  into  the  fort,  I  formed  on 
the  parade  in  such  a  manner  as  to  face  the  two  bar- 
racks which  faced  each  other. 

The  garrison  being  asleep,  except  the  sentries,  we 
gave  three  huzzas  which  greatly  surprised  them.  One 
of  the  sentries  made  a  pass  at  one  of  my  ofiicers  with 
a  charged  bayonet,  and  slightly  wounded  him :  My 
first  thought  was  t5  kill  him  with  my  swoid ;  but,  in 
an  instant,  I  altered  the  design  and  fury  of  the  blow 
to  a  slight  cut  on  the  side  of  the  head,  upon  which  he 
dropped  his  gun,  and  asked  quarter,  which  I  readily 
granted  him,  and  demanded  of  him  the  place  where 
the  commanding  officer  kept;  he  shewed  me  a  pair 
of  stairs  in  the  front  of  a  barrack,  on  the  west  part  of 
he  garrison,  which  led  up  to  a  second  story  in  said 
oarrack,  to  whicii  f  immediately  repaired,  and  ordered 
he  commander,  Capt.  De  la  Place,  to  come  forth  in- 
stantly, or  I  would  sacrifice  the  whole  garrison ;  at 
Aiiich  the  Capt.  came  immediately  to  the  door,  with 


DKS. 


r  a  num 
arbitrary 
I,  and  ac- 
orders  to 
jcticut,  to 
8.  I  now 
1,  conduct 
(  morning 
ourselves 
uch  as  it 
ravest  of 
contrary 
rily,  poise 

ree  ranks, 
iice  to  the 
hed  them 
■e  I  found 
fusee  at 
retreated 
ithin  the 
mb-proof. 
ormed  on 
two  bar- 

itries,  we 
sm.  One 
cers  with 
lim :  My 

;  but,  in 
the  blow 
which  he 
I  readilv 
ce  where 
le  a  pair 
3t  part  of 
y  in  said 
1  ordered 

forth  in- 
rison ;  at 
ioor,  with 


aulMJi 

jW 

UIK 

! 

IP 

\ 

II 

■ 

1 

w 

1 

.i 

1 '^  ^  ^' 

in.  J'S 

It 

1 

)'' 

p 

' 

':'    i' 

i '    p 

1  .t"     1 

1 V 

1  -f 

it      ^^*^* 

1 

f 

ii 

■ 


!  '''■■'■< 

If! 

if 
! 


I 


NARRATIVE  OF  ALLEn'b  CAPIIVIt^.  OJ5 

hie  breeches  in  his  hand  ;  when  I  ordered  him  M 
t  irv'^T  '^  f^r^.i'^^^antlv;  he  asked  nie  by  whi? 
authority  I   demanded  it :   1  answered   Jiim  " /^  t 

'^r;.;{'/'Thr:t  ^/"^f'^  ^^^  ^^-  "^^--' 

c<;/i^m6.       llie  authority  of  the  Cono-ress  bein.r  v.m-v 

IntenZLSV'^' ''"?'  ^  i"^^"  '^  ^^^  S       il 

his  1  eld  ^.5     r'  ^"1  7^^^^    '"^  ^^'^^'''"    s^vord  over 

hs  head,  agam  demanded  an  immediate  surrender  of 

he  garrison  ;  with  which  he  then  com])lied,  a    1  iierel 

Hs  men  to  be  forthwith  paraded  wi  hou    arms  as  he 

ifmf 'offi  "P  f^^--^'-"'     In  the  mean  S  some 

tflr/f      'T  ^'''^  ,^^^'"  °^^^^'''«'  ^nd  in  consequence 
thereof,  sundry  of  tlie  l)a.Tack  doors  were  beat  do  vn 

cSict  of  «  nT^  ^^"^ni^^nder,  a  J.ieut.  Feltham,  a 
conductor  of  artillery,  a   gunner,  two  serieants    and 

forty-four  rank  and  file;  about  on^  hundred  ptcesof 
sS'  ^'^^.f^'^^-.  ^-^^   --tar,  and  a  nu^X    o 
snivels.     This  surprise  was  carried  into  execution  in 
the  grey  of  tlie  morning  of  the  tenth  of  May,  3775     The 
8un  seemed  to  rise  that  morning  with  a  sup^io   lustre 
and  Ticonderoga  and  its  depe'ndencies  smiled   to   its 
conquerors,  who  tossed  about   the  flowino-  bowl    ,n  1 
wished  success  to  Congress,  and  the  liberty  and  fVe'edom 
of  America      Happy  it  was  for  me,  at  that  tin  e  thS 
the  then  future  pages  of  the  book  of  fate,  whic     ifu^ 
wards   unfolded  a  miserable  scene  of  t^o  years  and 
eight  months  imprisonment  were  hid  from  my  vL 

iiut  to  return  to  my  narrative :  Col.  Warner  with 
the  rear  guard,  crossed  the  lake,  and  joined  me  J  v 
in    he  ^ornmg,  whom  I  sent  off,  without  loss  of  time 

V  wn  TV  r'rT^^'^^  "^^"'  ''  '-^'  possession  >f 
Cown  lomt,  which  was  garrisoned  wi  h  a  serioan 
and  twelve  men  ;  which  he  took  possession  of  the  am« 
day,  as  also  of  upwards  of  one  hundred  piece  of  'r 
non.  But  one  thing  now  remained  to  be  Lne,  to  n nl  o 
ourselves  complete  masters  of  lake  Cliamplain  t  s 
was  to  possess  ourselves  of  a  sloop  of  war  wl  d,  w  « 
tlien  lying  at  St.  Johns  ;  to  effect  ^^hiH,,  i  C  trel? 
m  a  council  of  war,  to  arm  and  man' cmi^^  S-t^n 
ichooner,  which  lay  at  South  Bay,  and  that  Cap     now 


'•^    ' 


I     ! 


?    i 


216         ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEE0E8. 

general)  Arnold  sliovld  command  her,  and  that  I  should 
command  the  batteanx.  Tlie  necessary  preparations 
Loiiu^  made,  we  set  sail  from  Ticonderoga,  m  quest  ot 
the  sloop,  which  was  much  larger,  and  carried  more 
guns  and  heavier  metal  than  the  schooner.  General 
Arnold,  with  the  schooner,  sailing  faster  than  the  bat- 
teanx, arrived  at  St.  Johns ;  and  by  surprise,  possessed 
himself  of  the  sloop,  before  I  could  arrive  with  the 
biitteaux:  He  also  made  prisoners  of  a  serjeant  and 
twelve  men,  who  were  garrisoned  at  that  place.  It  is 
wortliy  of  remark  that  as  soon  as  General  Arnold  had 
secured  the  prisoners  on  board,  and  had  made  prepara- 
tion for  sailing,  the  wind,  which  but  a  few  hours  betore 
was  fresh  in  the  south,  and  well  served  to  carry  us  to 
St.  Johns,  now  shifted,  and  came  fresh  from  the  north  ; 
and  in  about  j^ne  hour's  time.  General  Arnold  sailed 
with  the  prize  and  schooner  for  Ticonderoga.  When 
I  met  him  with  my  party,  \vithiu  a  few  miles  ot  St. 
Joliiis.  he  saluted  me  with  a  discharge  of  cannon,  which 
I  returned  with  a  volley  of  small  arms.  This  being 
repeated  three  times,  I  went  on  board  the  sloop  with 
my  party,  where  several  loyal  Congress  healths  were 

dm  Ilk.  ,    , 

We  were  now  masters  of  lake  Champlam,  and  the 
garrison  deperdin^,^  thereon.  This  success  I  viewed 
of  consequence  m  the  scale  of  American  politics ;  lor, 
if  a  settlement  between  the  then  colonies  and  Great 
Bi-itain,  had  soon  taken  place,  it  would  have  been  easy 
to  have  restored  these  acquisitions;  but  viewing  the 
then  future  consequences  of  a  cruel  war,  as  it  has  really 
proved  to  be,  and  the  command  of  that  lake,  garrisons, 
artillery,  &c.,  it  must  be  viewed  to  be  of  signal  import- 
ance to  the  American  cause,  and  it  is  marvellous  to  me 
that  we  ever  lost  the  command  of  it.  Nothing  but 
tiikino-  a  Burgoyne  with  a  whole  British  army,  could, 
in  my  opinion,  atone  for  it;  and  notwithstanding  such 
an  extraordinary  victory,  we  must  be  obliged  to  regain 
the  command  of  that  lake  again,  be  the  cost  what  it 
will ;  by  doing  this  Canada  will  easily  be  brought  into 
union  and  confederacy  v/ith  tho  United  States  of 
America.      Such  an  event  would   x>ut   it   out  of  the 


ES. 

[  should 
irations 
uest  of 
d  more 
Greneral 
the  bat- 
jssesBed 
ith  the 
ant  and 
!.  It  is 
old  had 
prepara- 
s  before 
ry  us  to 
3  north ; 
d  sailed 
When 
;8  of  St. 
n,  which 
is  being 
)op  with 
hs  were 

and  the 
viewed 
ics;  for, 
d  Great 
een  easy 
v'ing  the 
as  really 
arrisons, 
[  import- 
iis  to  ine 
aing  but 
y,  could, 
ing  such 
;o  regain 
what  it 
ight  into 
tates  of 
t  of  the 


NARRATIVK  OF  ALLEn's  OAPTIVH  t  .  217 

j)owerof  the  western  tribes  of  Indians  to  carry  on  a 
war  with  us,  and  be  a  solid  and  durable  bar  against 
any  further  inhuman  barbarities  committed  on  our 
frontier  inhabitants,  by  cruel  and  blood-tliirsty  sav- 
ages ;  tor  It  18  impossible  to  carry  oe  a  war  exceut 
they  are  supported  by  the  trade  and  commerce'of  some 
civilized  nation  ;  which  to  them  would  be  impracticable, 
did  Canada  compose  a  part  of  the  American  empire. 

Larly  m  the  tall  of  the  year,  the  little  armv  under 
the  command  of  the  Gene.  .Is  Schuyler  and  Montgom- 
ery, were  ordered  to  advance  into  Canada.  I  was  at 
liconderoga,  when  this  order  arrived  ;  and  the  Gen- 

a-ttend  them  m  the  expedition ;   and,  though  at   that 

time  I   had  no  commission  from  Congress?  yet   they 

engaged  me,  that  I  should  be  considered  as  an  cffi cef 

he  same  as  though  I  had  a  commission  ;  and  should' 

nenTofTl"  "'^''^'  'T^'^^  ^^"^^"'^"^  ^^^'^^^  ^^-^ 
ments  ot  the  army.     Tins  1  considered  as  an  honorable 

ofler,  and    did    not    hesitate   to  comply  with   it    ami 
advanced  with  the  army  to  the  Is!  Ja^x-To  x    'fro  n 
whence  I  was  ordered  by  the  General,  to  go  in  conmny 
with  Major  Brown,  and  certain  interpreters,  through 
the  woods  into  Canada,  with  letters  to  the  Canadians 
and  to  let  them  know  that  the  design  of  the  army  was 
oniy  against  the  English  garrisons,  and  not  the  country, 
their  liberties  or  religion;  and  having,  through  mudi 
danger,  negotiated  this  business,  I  retmned  to'the  Isle- 
aux-JSo.x  in  the  tore  part  of  September,  when  General 
Schuyler  returned  to  Albany;  Ld  in  consequence   I'e 
command  devolved  upon  General  Montgomery,  whom 
I  assisted  in  laving  a  line  of  circumvallation  round  the 
fortress  of  St.  Johns.     After  which  I  was  ordered,  by 
t..e  General,  to  make  a  second  tour  into  Canada,  upon 
nearly   the   same   design   as   before ;    and    whhal   to 
observe  the  disposition,  designs  and  movements  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  country.     This  reconnoiter  I  under- 
took reluctantly,  choosing  rather  to  assist  at  the  seiffe 
of  St.  Johns  which  was  then  closely  invested  ;  but  my 
esteem  for  the  general's  person,  and  opinion  of  him  as 
a  politician  and  brave  officer  induced  me  to  proceed 


p 

pir 

r' 

f' 

W"  ''■', 

1 

1 

< 

M-r 


I' 

i                                           f 

HI   ii 

1.     !■ 

1  i' 

I; 

ii 

J 

fi  "i 

1. 

r^  ;i^ 

p 

ii 

218       KTHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEKN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

I  passed  through  all  the  parishes  on  the  river  Sorei, 
to  a  parish  at  the  mouth  of  the  same,  which  is  called 
by  the  same  name,  preaching  politics ;  and  went  frora 
thence  across  the  ISorel  to  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and 
lip  the  river  through  the  parishes  to  Longueuil,  and  so 
far  met  with  good    success  as  an  itinerant.      In  this 
round  my  guard  were  Canadians,  mv  interpreter,  and 
Bome  few  attendants  excepted.     On  the  morning  of  the 
24th  day  of  Septemher,  I  set  out  with  my  guard  of 
about  eighty  men,  from  Longueuil,  to  go  to  Laprairie ; 
from  whence  I  determined  to  go  to  General  Montgom- 
ery's camp  ;  but  had  not  advanced  two  miles  before  I 
met  with  Major  Brown,  who  has  since  been  advanced 
to  the  rank  of  a  Colonel,  who  desired  me  to  halt,  saying 
that  he  had  something  of  importance  to  communicate 
to  me  and  my  confidants  ;   upon  which  I  halted  the 
party,  and  went  into  a  house,  and  took  a  private  room 
with   him   and   several  of  my  associates,  where  Col. 
Brown  proposed   that,  "provided   I  would   return  to 
Longueuil,  and  procure  some  canoes,  so  as  to  cross  the 
the  river  St.  Lawrence  a  little  north  of  Montreal,  he 
would  cross  it  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  town,  with 
near  two  hundred  men,  as  he  had  l^oats  sufficient;  and 
that  we  could  make  ourselves  masters  of  Montreal." 
This  plan  was  readily  approved  by  me  and  those  in 
council ;  and  in  consequence  of  wliich  I  returned  to 
Longueuil,  collected  a  few  canoes,  and   added  about 
thirty   English- Americans   to   my  party,  and  crossed 
the  river  in  the  night  of  the  24th,  agreeably  to  the 
before  proposed  plan. 

My  whole  party  at  this  time,  consisted  of  about 
one  hundred  and  ten  men,  near  eighty  of  whom  were 
Canadians.  We  were  most  of  tht  niglit  crossing  the 
river,  as  we  had  so  few  canoes  that  they  had  to  pass 
and  repass  three  times,  to  cary  my  party  across.  Soon 
after  day-break,  I  set  a  guard  Vetween  me  and  the 
town,  with  special  orders  to  let  no  person  pass  or  repass 
them,  another  guard  on  the  other  end  of  the  road,  with 
like  directions  ;  in  the  mean  time,  I  reconnoitered  the 
best  ground  to  mrke  a  defence,  expecting  Col.  Brown's 
party  was  landed  on  the  other  side  of  the  town,  he 


Narrative  of  allt^in's  captivitf.  2iy 

haviijg,  the  day  before,  a-reed   to  give  three  L  r/^aa 
w,  h  his  men  early  in  the  morning,  Aich  signal  I  wl 

were  jantled     but  the  sun,  by  this  time,  being  nearly 

ude  mvself^t^;  ?'•'''  "*^"  '^'^''^^  ^  '^^g-^  ^^  '-- 
omllldT      •        I  '"]  ^  Premiinire,  and  would  have 

wonM  hn  '  T"'  ^^'>  ''-^""'  t'"^  I  knew  the  enemy 
cou  d  nrmotT'''^  such  an  attempt ;  and  as  ther^ 
couiu  not  more  than  one  third  part  of  my  troops  crosa 

iVh^df  t"  T'^r.''  --^dofco^urseTluZ 
tneir  hands.  This  I  could  not  reconcile  to  my  own 
feelings  as  a  man,  much  less  as  an  officer:  I  thereto 

to  tU  rile'  "/""'""  ''''  ^'"""^'  ''  l--^ble,  and  aU 
to  taie  alike.  In  consequence  of  this  resolution  1  des- 
patched two  messengers,  one  to  Laprairie,  tc  C     Brown 

Mr  Wt^f'"'  '^  ^'^«««.^»P^i«n'  -  ^^ench  se^tlinfentrtJ 
Mr  Walker  who  was  in  our  interest,  requesting  the  r 
ppeedy  assistance,  giving  them,  at  the  tame  tfme  to 
understand  my  critical  situation.  In  the  mean  time 
sundry  persons  came  to  my  guards,  pretenZ^to  be 

0  me''  'tL::!  '^^'^".  '^''"  ^^^^^^'-«  and\ought 
tome,      ihese  I   ordered   to  coniinement,  imtil  their 

riendship  could  be  further  confirmed  ;  Ibr  I  m  as  Llous 
they  were  spies  as  they  proved  to  be  Lfterwards  One 
of  the  principa  of  them  making  his  escape,  exposed 
the  weakness  of  my  party,  which  was  the  final  Sse 
of  my  misfortune;  for  I  have  been  since  informed ^hat 

ana  had  raised  a  considerable  number  of  men  for  mv 
assistance  which  brought  him  into  difiiculty  afterwards^ 
l^t^nP-  hearing  of  my  misfortune,  he  disbanded  them 

oiton^nd^  ??'"'''"!  ^"'  ^'"  "  ^'''''  *"'""1^-  General 
l^aileton  and  the  royal  party,  made  every  preparati(«n 

to  go  on  board  their  vessels  of  force,  as Y  was  af  er 
wards  informed,  but  the  spy  escaped  f  om  my  guard  to 
the  town,  occasioned  an  alteration  in  thei.  pdfcy  md 
emboldened  Gen.  Carleton  to  send  the  fo  ce  w^^foh  e 
had  there  collected,  out  against  me.  I  had  pTevkllv 
chosen  my  ground,  but  when  I  saw  the  numl,^^  ,7the 
enemy  as  th.y  sallied  out  of  the  town,  I  perceived  i? 


■lit 


I 

^^^^^^^^^n 

i   ^ 

1 

|| 

i  ■ 

'* 

* 

?'-■         " 

' 

» ' 


t 
1 

1, 

1    , 

.1 ' 

'I 


.  1 
1  1 

1 

1 

i      ' 

B 

i  i 

L^ 

220        ETHAN  ALLKN  AND  0KL:EN-M0UNTAIN  KEROES. 

would  be  a  day  of  trouble,  if  not  of  rebuke  ;  but  I  had 
no  chanc(i  to  flee,  as  Montreal  was  situated  on  an  island, 
and  the  St.  Lawrence  cut  off  my  comniunication  to 
General  Montgomery's  camp.  1  encouraged  my  sc'- 
diery  to  bravely  defend  themselves,  that  we  shotdd 
soon  have  help,  and  that  we  should  be  able  to  keep  the 
ground,  if  no  more.  This,  and  much  more,  I  affirmed 
with  the  greatest  seeming  assurance,  and  wliich  in 
reality  1  thought  to  be  in  some  degree  probable. 

The  enemy  consisted  of  not  more  than  forty  regular 
troops,  together  with  a  mixed  multitude,  chietly  Cana- 
dians, with  a  number  of  English  who  lived  in  town, 
and  some  Indians  ;  in  all  to  tlio  number  of  live  hundred. 

The  reader  will  notice  that  most  of  my  party  were 
Canadians ;  indeed  it  was  a  motely  parcel  of  soldiery 
which  composed  both  parties.  However,  the  enemy 
began  to  attack,  from  wood-piles,  ditches,  buildings, 
and  such  like  places,  at  a  considerable  distance,  and  I 
returned  the  lire  from  a  situation  more  than  equally 
advantageous.  The  attack  began  between  two  and  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  just  before  which  I  ordered  a 
volunteer  by  the  name  of  Richard  Young,  with  a  de- 
tachment ot*  nine  men  as  a  flank  guard,  which,  under 
the  cover  of  the  bank  of  the  river,  could  not  only  annoy 
the  enemy,  but  at  the  same  time,  serve  as  a  flank  guard 
to  the  left;  of  the  main  body. 

The  fire  continued  for  sometime  on  both  sides ;  and 
1  was  confident  that  such  a  remote  method  of  attack 
could  not  carry  the  ground,  provided  it  should  be  con- 
tinued till  night :  but  near  half  the  body  of  the  enemy 
began  to  flank  round  to  my  right ;  upon  which  I  ordered 
a  volunteer  by  the  name  of  John  Dugan,  who  had 
lived  many  years  in  Canada,  and  understood  thb 
French  language,  to  detach  about  fifty  Canadians,  and 
post  himselV  at  an  advantageous  ditch,  which  was  on  my 
right,  to  prevent  my  being  surrounded  :  He  advanced 
with  the  detachment,  but  instead  of  occupying  the  post, 
made  his  escape,  as  did  likewise  Mr.  Young  upon  the 
left,  with  their  detachments.  I  soon  perceived  that  the 
enemy  was  in  possession  of  the  ground,  which  Dugan 
ehould  have  occupied.     A*^  this  time  I  had  but  about 


NAHEATIVE  OF  ALLEN's  CAPTIVITY. 


2in 


forty  five  men  with  me ;  some  of  whom  were  wound.>(]  • 
the  enemy  kept  closing  round  me,  nor  was  it  in  inv 
power  to  prevent  it ;  by  which  means,  my  situation, 
which  was  advantageous  in  the  first  part  of  tiie  attack 
ceasexl  to  be  so  in  the  last;  and  being  entirely  sur- 
rounded with  such  vast,  unequal  numbers,  I  o/derod 
a  retreat,  but  found  that  those  of  the  enemy,  who  were 
ot   the  country,  and  their  Indians,  could  run  as  fust 
as  my  men,  though  the  regulars  could  not.     Thus  I 
retreated  near  a  mile,  and  some  of  the  enemy,  with  the 
savages,  kept  flanking  me,  and  others  crowded  hard 
in  the  rear.     In  line,  I  expected,  in  a  very  short  time, 
to  try  the  world  ot  spirits;  for  I  was  apprehensive  tiiat 
no  quarter  would  be  given  to  me,  and  therefore  liad 
determined  to  sell  my  Hfo  as  dear  as  I  could.     One 
ot  the  enemy's  officers,  boldly  pressing  in  the  rear, 
discharged  his  tusee  at  me ;  the  ball  whfstled  near  me 
as  did  many  others  that  day.     I  returned  the  salute 
and  missed  him,  as  running  had  put  us  both  out  of 
breath  ;  for  I  conclude  we  were  not  frightened  :  I  then 
saluted  hira  with  my  tongue  in  a  harsh  manner,  an<l 
told  him  that,  inasmuch  as  his  numbers  were  so  far 
superior  to  mine,  I  would  surrender  provided  I  could 
be  treated  with  honor,  and  be  assured  of  good  quarter 
tor  myself  and  the  men  who  were  with  me;  and  he 
answered  I  should  ;  another  officer,  coming  up  directly 
after,  confirmed  the  treaty;  upon  which  I  agreed  to 
surrender   with^  my  party,  which   then   consisted  of 
thirty-one  eliective  men,  and  seven  wounded.    I  ordered 
them  to  ground  their  arms,  which  they  did. 

The  officer  I  capitulated  with,  then  directed  me  and 
my  party  to  advance  towards  him,  which  was  done  •  I 
handed  him  my  sword,  and  in  half  a  minute  after  a 
savage,  part  of  whose  head  was  sliaved,  being  ahn.Kt 
naked  and  painted,  with  feathers  intermixed  with  the 
hair  of  the  other  side  of  his  head,  came  runnino-  to 
me  with  anmcredible  swiftness  ;  he  seemed  to  advance 
with  more  than  mortal  speed;  as  ho  approached  near 
me,  his  hellish  visage  was  beyond  all  description  ; 
snake  s  eyes  appear  innocent  in  compar'son  to  his  ;  hh 
features  extorted  ;  malice,  death,  murder,  and  the  wrath 


id 


i  'I 

W       '  T 

V  ' 


?! 


Hi' 


llli'  i 


222        El'IlAJV  AJ.LKN  AND  UKEKN-MOl'NTAIN  IIKIiOi;8. 

Df  tlt'vils  and  (humiod  Hpirlts  uru  tlio  etiibkiius  of  his 
cuuntciiiincc ;  uiid  in  Iosh  tlmn  twclvo  tVot  of  nju,  pre- 
Bentud  liin  iiivl(»ok;  at  tlio  instant  of  liin  present,  1 
twitelied  tiie  otlicer,  to  wiioni  I  »^ave  iny  HWord,  between 
mo  and  tlie  luivage ;  but  be  Ib.'vv  round  witb  •'ivat  fury, 
trying  to  hiiij^le  nie  out  to  isboot  nie  witbout  Killing  tlio 
olHcer;  i)tit  by  tliin  time  1  wan  iiearly  as  nimble  a.s  he, 
kee|»ing  tiie  otlicer  in  huch  a  position  that  bis  daii<^er 
was  my  delonee;  but,  in  less  than  half  a  minute,  1  was 
attacked  by  just  such  another  imp  of  hell  :  Then  I 
niatle  the  otlicer  fly  around  with  incredible  velocity, 
for  a  few  seconds  of  time,  when  1  perceived  a  Canadian, 
who  had  lost  one  eye,  as  a])peared  afterwards,  taking 
my  part  against  the  savages ;  and  in  an  instant  an 
Irisbnum  cume  to  my  assistance  with  a  lixed   bayonet, 

and  drove  away  the  fiends,  swearing  by he  would 

kill  them.  This  tragic  scene  composed  my  mind.  The 
escaping  from  so  awful  a  death,  made  even  imprison- 
ment happy ;  the  more  so  as  my  conquerors  on  the 
field  treated  me  with  great  civility  and  politeness.    . 

The  regular  otKcers  said  that  they  were  v(!ry  happy 
to  see  Colonel  Allen  :  I  answered  them,  that  1  should 
rather  choose  to  have  seen  them  at  General  Montgom- 
ery's camp.  The  gentlemen  replied,  tliat  they  gave 
full  credit  to  what  1  said,  and  as  I  walked  to  the  town, 
which  was,  as  I  should  guess,  more  than  two  miles,  a 
Ijritish  officer  walking  at  my  riglit  hand,  and  one  of 
the  French  noblesse  at  my  left ;  tlie  latter  of  which,  in 
the  action,  had  his  eyebrow  carried  away  by  a  glancing 
shot,  but  was  nevertheless  very  merry  and  facetious, 
and  no  abuse  was  offered  me  till  I  came  to  the  barrack 
yard  at  Montreal,  where  I  met  general  l^rescott,  who 
asked  me  my  name,  which  I  told  him :  lie  then  asked 
me  whethei-  1  was  that  Col.  Allen,  who  took  Ticonde- 
roga.  I  told  him  that  I  was  the  very  man  :  The  .x  he 
shook  his  cane  over  my  head,  calling  many  hard  names, 
among  which  he  frequently  used  the  word  rebel,  and 
put  himself  in  a  great  rage.  I  told  him  he  would  do 
well  not  to  cane  me,  for  1  was  not  accustomed  to  it, 
and  shook  my  fist  at  him,  telling  him  that  was  the 
beetle  of  mortality  for  him  if  he  ottered  to  strike* 


1 


NARKATIVE  OF  ALLEn's  CAPTIYITr.  323 

upon  uhic}i  Cant  M'Cloiid  of  tho  Vv;r,  \        „    ,  , 
hy  ti.e  skirt,  and  M-I.is,,mil    o    'irn  nl1'  ^'J^"^  '''"^ 
told  mo,totlii8  impor      tl  at  i/w      •       '  !^^^*'™'-^'« 
I'is  honor  to  «trikra  ^r   olr      H   ^'^''^'^^^'''t  with 
Serjeant's  command  wit^C  'bat.    ri  ''''"''1  ' 

to  me;  they  were  wrinLnn..  their  /I 

cause  of  tl,e  Canadians  tnd^~^Z     ""'  ""  •^"''' 

l™  dread  comma  ^d  to  shoi  h  ?"  '.'"f ''^''''^  waiting 
!.oart ;  I  could,  however  ;'rcTrt  t  "'' 

me  tl,e  following  reph"";'!  Im'T''  ''''™  ''«  "^^e 
W,ou  shall  g?ace7hk,ter:;\^t:r-'---; 

I  ^^:^:^t^':^rt""^'''^ "  "'-= 

pression,  as  it  significan'tl^  „ve/cd  to  me""tt  -^  '^^ 
postponing  the  present  appeara'fce  ot°d"at  ,',',"* 
his  seutenco  was  bv  no  mXm  «„  i        .      ' '  "<'''"'iea 

Imlter,"  although  liS^anx'St  aC  t  i?  rJ  *^i'T'"f  1 
in  Eng  and,  as  the  reack-r  w  11  fif   •    .1'  ""'  ^  '""''«' 

Wstorf.  G'en.  Pr^s'tth™'  rd"ered"ot  S'l"!"  %'"'' 
to  take  me  on  hmrH  <■!.«  r^„     ««ieo  one  ot  ins  ofteers 

confine  me,  hands  anffetrirons^'r  f  ""'  ""-l 
the  same  afternoon  I  was  take„    °"''  ^''"''^  "'"^  ''™« 

thc'ttt^nd-llr  no"t  To' 'SV^?  ^™^'-^'  "^ 
my  men  were  killprl   fi.l  '  f  t  '^*^    ^'^'^  '"'^nv  of 

-i  t.w.  Tr!  .^:?nhtf hiTwerZiS^^r 


«■! 


224        ETHAN   ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOlNTAiN  IJEUOLS. 


r'i 


W 


III. 


h\ 


of  them,  Wm.  Stewart,  by  name,  was  wounded  by  a 
Bavage  with  a  tomahawk,  after  lie  was  taken  prisoner 
and  disarmed,  but  was  rescued  by  some  of  tlie  gener- 
ous enenjy  ;  and  so  far  recovered  of  his  wounds,  that 
he  afterwards  went  with  the  other  prisoners  to  England. 

Of  the  enemy,  were  killed  a  major  Garden,  who  had 
been  wounded  in  ekven  difterent  battles,  and  an  em- 
inent merchant,  Patterson,  of  Montreal,  and  some 
others,  but  I  ne^er  kne\r  their  whole  loss,  as  their  ac- 
counts were  dilferent.  I  am  apprehensive  that  it  is 
rare,  that  so  much  ammunition  was  expended,  and  so 
little  execution  done  by  it  ;  though  such  of  my  party 
as  stood  thd'  ground,  behaved  with  great  fortitude, 
much  exceeding  that  of  the  enemy,  but  were  not  the 
best  of  marksmen,  and,  I  am  apprehensive,  were  all 
killed  or  taken  ;  the  wounded  were  all  put  into  the 
hospital  at  Montreal,  and  those  that  were  not,  were 
put  on  board  of  difterent  vessels  in  the  river,  and 
shackled  together  by  pairs,  viz.  two  men  fastened  to- 
gether by  one  hand-cuff,  being  closely  fixed  to  one 
wrist  of  each  of  them,  and  treated  with  the  greatest 
severity,  nay  as  criminals. 

I  now  come  to  the  description  of  the  ^ ions,  which 
were  put  on  me  :  The  hand-cuft"  was  of  common  size 
and  form,  but  my  leg  irons,  I  should  imagine  would 
weigh  thirty  pounds  ;  the  bar  was  eight  feet  long,  and 
very  substantial  ;  the  shackles,  which  encompassed  ray 
ancles,  were  very  tight.  I  was  told  by  the  officer,  who 
put  them  on,  that  it  was  the  king's  plate,  and  I  heard 
other  of  their  officers  say,  that  it  would  weigh  forty 
weight.  The  irons  were  so  close  upon  my  ancles,  that 
I  could  not  lay  down  in  any  other  manner  than  on  my 
back.  I  was  put  into  the  lowest  and  most  wretched 
part  of  the  vessel,  where  I  got  the  favor  of  a  chest  to 
sit  on  ;  the  same  answered  for  my  bed  at  night ;  and 
having  procured  some  little  blocks  of  the  guard,  who 
day  and  night,  with  fixed  bayonets,  watched  over  me, 
to  lie  under  each  end  of  the  large  bar  of  my  leg  irons, 
to  preserve  my  ancles  from  galling,  while  I  sat  on  the 
chest,  or  lay  back  on  the  sam.e,  though  most  of  the  time, 
night  and  day,  I  sat  on  it ;  but  at  length,  having  a 


f  1  f 


KAEHATIVE  OF  ALLEn's  OAPTITITT.  225 

frons  forbid  ''iT  ■"  ^l"'^''  "^''^  *•>«  «'°»«ne8S  of  my 

The  reader  is  now  invited  baot  fr^  f>,n  +  •       t 
put  into  irons.     I  requested  the  privil^:  toTnl' to 
General  Prescott,  which  was  granted.    Ireminde   him 
of  thekmd  and  generous  mtnner  of  my  tmtmeM  rf 
the  prisoners  I  took  at  Ticonderoo-a  ■  fh/i?    ."        , 

wiiu  were  permitted  to  see  me,  were  very  insulfino- 
which  time  I  was  obliged  to  throw  out  Xnfl  n  '    ^ 

of;n|erTtwZ'd"nff'„"P''-'!  ^''l^  ^^-^ted,  in  a  fit 
VI  aii^er,  1  twisted  olt  a  nail  with  mv  teeth  v^hioh  t 

fS    *?^  V*'"-P.'=""^  """  i  it  wentZough'the  mo. 
tise  of  the  bar  of  my  hand-cniT  and  nf  .17^1       1" 

I  swaggered  over  th^ose  who  ltd  me    p.Su1^h: 
New-?:rk'l''nd'd:s''  '""-^ -^"i'''  I  "as' o^ullaw^"  > 

ZI   ,/?^^^°  "•    When  I  challenged  him,  he  exoimnd 
himselt,  m   consequence,  as  he  s-iid  of  rn v  PP"'^^ 

eat  iron-.  "After  thatiairpXcT^^sTe'dr  tt: 


*i 


22>  i        ElfliAN  ALLEN   AND  GEEEN  ^(^uiJfTAlN  UEK0E8. 


ii     • 


fi 


n 

1                  i:- 

liand-ciiir,  instead  of  the  nail ;  and  as  they  were  mean- 
spirited  in  their  treatment  to  me,  eo  it  aj)pea\ed  to  me, 
that  thy}  were  equally  timorous  and  cowardly. 

I  was  after  sent,  with  the  prisoners  taken  with  me, 
to  an  armed  vessel  in  the  river,  which  lay  oli'  against 
Quebec,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  M"Cloud,  of  the 
Ih'itish,  who  treated  me  in  a  very  generous  and  obliging 
manner,  and  according  to  my  rank;  in  about  twenty- 
four  hou.s  1  bid  him  farewell  with  regret ;  but  my 
g(>od  fortune  still  continued.  The  name  of  tlie  Cap- 
tain of  the  vessel  1  v/as  put  on  board,  was  Littlejohn  ; 
who,  with  'his  olHcers,  beiuived  in  a  polite,  generous, 
and  friendly  manner.  I  lived  with  them  in  the  cabin, 
and  fared  on  the  best,  my  irons  being  taken  off,  con- 
trary to  the  order  he  had  received  from  the  command- 
ing officer ;  but  Capt.  Littlejohn  swore,  that  a  brave 
man  should  not  be  used  as  a  rascal,  on  board  his  ship. 

That  T  found  myself  in  possession  of  happiness  once 
more,  •  .id  the  evils  I  had  lately  suftered,  gave  me  an 
uncommon  relish  for  it. 

Capt.  Littlejohn  used  to  go  to  Quebec  almost  every 
day,  in  order  to  pay  his  respects  to  certain  gentlemen 
and  ladies ;  being  there  on  a  certain  day,  he  happened 
to  meet  with  some  disagreeable  treatment,  as  he  im- 
aijined,  from  a  Lieutenant  of  a  man  of  war,  and  one 
word  brought  on  another,  until  the  Lieutenant  chal- 
lenged him  to  a  duel  on  the  plains  of  Abru'iam.  Capt. 
Littlejohn  was  a  gentleman,  who  entertained  a  high 
sense  of  honor,  and  could  do  no  less  than  accept  the 


challenge 


At  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning  they  were  to  fight. 
The  Captain  returned  in  the  evening,  and  acquainted 
his  Lieutenant  and  me  with  the  affair.  His  Lieutenant 
was  a  high  blooded  Scotchman,  as  well  as  himself,  who 
replied  to  his  Captain  that  he  should  not  want  for  a 
second.  With  this  I  interrupted  him  and  gave  the 
Captain  to  understand,  that  since  an  opportunity  had 
presented,  I  would  be  glad  to  testify  my  gratitude  to 
nim,  by  acting  the  part  of  a  faitliful  second  ;  on  which 
he  gave  me  his  hand,  and  said  that  he  wanted  no  bet- 
ter man.    Says  he,  I  am  a  King's  officer,  and  you  a 


lOEB. 

;ere  nieau- 
ifcid  tu  me, 

1  with  me, 
jtf  against 
lud,  of  the 
id  obliging 
it  twenty- 
;  but  my 
t'  the  (Jap- 
liittlejohu  ; 
generous, 
the  cabin, 
jn  off,  con- 
command- 
Lt  a  brave 
d  his  sliip. 
)ines8  once 
ave  me  au 

nost  every 
gentlemen 
happened 
as  he  im- 
ir,  and  one 
3nant  chal- 
im.  Capt. 
ed  a  high 
accept  the 

re  to  fight, 
acquainted 
Lieutenant 
mself,  who 
want  for  a 
I  gave  the 
tunity  had 
ratitude  to 
;  on  which 
ted  no  bet- 
and  you  a 


NAKKATH'E  OF  ALLEn's  CAPTIVITT.  227 

t  'er;  'you  must  ing  'e  1  utn"  h''\""^  "^^^'^^  ^■"^- 
tleman,  that  whether  Tn/'i-P  ^^'^  ^'^"'^^  ^^  »  ^en- 
Provided  you  1  verthat  you  wll?'  'I  ^'^'''''''  ''^Pl-"«' 
ant  on  hoard  this  shin '•^^11      -'"t"'",  ^^  '"^  ^^^^"^en- 

^^!-.  The  eombLaZwefe  o  liscLr^'^^^y  '''^'^''^ 
pistol,  and  then  to  fall  on  w;  h  ,  '^^-y^^  f'-^^'j  ^  pocket 
whangers  ;  and  one  ot' thi  L  l^'^'  iron-hilted  n.uckle 
l>ut  some  Eritish  officers  who  n^"'  '"?"^^'  ^'''''  "^^  5 
--ning,  settled  the  coSoTeiw  ^^^C^^^  ^"  ^'^'^ 

Littlejohn  a^nd  hi  offic?r«  r'"'  ''\^'"^^"^  «^'  ^>tain 
tarewill,  paring  wit^he^^inTs  ?^^'^u  ''  ^^^  '^^^^ 
we  had  lived  together  t]ll\  ^C^l'^^^  ^  ^^""^r  as 
ory,  was  the  el^ve^^^^^  ^^f  «^'  "^7  niem- 

ment  of  Genea  Arnl^"^^^^^^^  ^^^"  ^  '^^'^'^ 
Point  Levi,  oppositt  S  ebee  1/hT/  "T"'^'^  ^" 
extraordinary   march  fhrnn  V  m,"*  performed   an 

with  design  to  have  sutnsfd  H    ""'^'^^'T'   ^^""t''^' 
I  was  then  taken   on  K^?     ^^^  ^^^P'^^^  «f  Canada 
mant,  to 'ether  wlhTh."'^  ^  ^"''"^  ^^"^d  the  Ada! 
put  undSr     he   ;^y  r^^^^^^^^  -^e,  and 

London,  whose  iZe^Llr^^^t^^^^^  ^-m 

malicious  and  cruel  disT)ositSn  and  w     "  '  ^   "^'^^^   ^^ 
excited,  in  the  exercis^of*  hrmalevdr. '"'"1^'"^'^^^^ 
of  tories,  who  sailed  with   him  to  FnT^^^^ '"'^""^ 
wiiom  were   Col.  Guv   Tohn«^^  n  ,   ?,?^'^°^  5   among 
attendants  and  associates  foth.'  ^\^^'''^  ^^^   their 

All  the  ship's  crew  n'on     ''''^^?'  ^^'  ^^^'^^  ^^^ 
'I'-ivior  excep  ed   behripd   ;        '1'  '^  ^''  P^^^^^^^  be- 
^hat  spint7'b1tott?wh    n^^^  -th 

tenstic  of  tories,  when  'they  have  ieiSt'/r'''' 

they  exercise^toJ^ardsle  wl.t        ^  '"^  '^^^^^  ^^^^^^ 


228       ETHAI^  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROKS. 


V.'i 


I      i 


Into  this  place  we  were  all,  to  the  number  of  thirty-four, 
thrust  and  hand-cuffed,  two  prisoners  more  being  added 
to  our  number,  and  were  provided  with  two  excrement 
tubs ;  in  this  circumference  we  were  obliged  to  eat  and 
perform  the  offices  of  evacuation,  during  the  voyage 
to  England  ;  and  were  insulted  by  every  black-guard 
sailor  and  tory  on  board,  in  the  crudest  manner ;  but 
what  is  the  most  surprising  thing  is,  that  not  one  of  us 
died  in  the  passage.    When  I  was  first  ordered  to  go 
into  the  filthy  inclosure,  through  a  small  sort  of  door, 
I  positively  refused,  and   endeavored   to  reason  the 
before  named  Brook  Watson  out  of  a  conduct  so  de- 
rogatory to  every  sentiment  of  honor  and  humanity, 
but  all  to  no  purpose,  my  men  being  forced  in  the  den 
already ;   and  the  rascal  who  had  the  charge  of  the 
prisoners  commanded  me  to  go  immediately  in  among 
the  rest.     He  further  added  that  the  place  was  good 
enough  for  a  rebel ;  that  it  was  impertinent  for  a  capi- 
tal offender  to  talk  of  honor  or  humanity ;  that  any 
thing  short  of  a  halter  was  too  good  for  me  ;  and  that 
that  would  be  my  portion  soon  after  I  landed  in  Eng- 
land ;  for  which  purpose  only  I  was  sent  thither.  ^  About 
the  same  time  a  lieutenant  among  the  tories,  insulted 
me  in  a  grievous  manner,  saying  I  ought  to  have  been 
executed  for  my  rebellion  against  New- York,  and  spit 
m  my  face ;  upon  which,  though  I  was  hand-cuffed,  1 
sprang  at  him  with  both  hands,  and  knocked  him  partly 
down,  but  he  scrambled  along  into  the  cabin,  and  I 
after  him ;  there  he  got  under  the  protection  of  some 
men  with  fixed  bayonets,  who  were  ordered  to  make 
ready  to  drive  me  into  the  place  aforementioned.     I 
challenged  him  to  fight,  notwithstanding  the  impedi- 
ments that  were  on  my  hands,  and  had  the  exalted 
pleasure  to  see  the  rascal  tremble  for  fear ;  his  name  I 
have  forgot,  but  Watson  ordered  his  guard  to  get_  me 
into  the  place  with  the  other  prisoners,  dead  or  alive ; 
and  I  had  almost  as  lieve  die  as  to  do  it,  standing  it 
out  till  they  environed  me  round  with  bayonets ;  and 
brutish,   prejudiced,   abandoned  wretches   they  were, 
from  whom  I  could  expect  nothing  but  death  or  wounds ; 
however.  J   told    them,  that  they  were  good   honest 


HABEATIYE    OF  ALLEn's   CAITIVITT.  229 

fn'Ste  With  T}V°'  ^^'r  "'™  '  *«'  I  w«=  only 

to  fo.ce  me^n'to  ,.""  V""",''  "^^  *ere  determined 
their  pre Wiced  ..^rt  H  ""*"^^  circumstances,  which 
for  mo .  ;k      *■  '',  "epfa^ed  minds  had    prepared 

indili'ti'^T*""' ■;'''''*"•  "."»"  die,  I  s„b,„itteLoZir 

n;<.ri°f     .  ^  °"^'"'  prisoners,  where  we  were  de 

V  rv  Semllf '^'^''P' ''  ^'"''"  "''"wancer^hTch  wat 
the  etencnrtt     i°"  ''''",*'  =/'"'  '»  consequence  of 

these  severi^et  f,?^  l''"  ^"J^"^'  notwith^anding 
fJf^  ^f  ^^i<^^e8,  mil  allowance  of  salt  provisions  and 
a  gill  of  rum  per  day  ;  the  latter  of  wliich  was  of  thp 

the  prisoners  were  taken    from   their  "y  ^^1' 

uchu  dir,  wnich  to  us  was  verv  rpfi-pcshmn,     tv     j 
*olIowing  we  landed  at  Falmouth!  ^^     ^'"'  "^"y 


tini 


iiJiiiiiiSi 

winch  I  made  my  appearance  in  England.    "  ' 

citiVens  o  •  P»L''''';r'  '"f"".  "'"'''^'^'  multitudes  of  the 

ber.  on  the  tops  of  ho^s^raid^^thrrL-ngt^-rt 


I'*.! 


230        ETHAN   ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

grouuds  were  covered  with  them,  of  both  sexes.  The 
throng  was  ao  great,  that  the  king's  officers  were 
obliged  to  draw  tlieir  swords,  and  force  a  passage  to 
Pendennis  castle,  which  was  near  a  mile  from  the  town, 
where  we  were  closely  confined,  in  consequence  of 
orders  from  General  Carleton,  who  then  commanded 
in  Canada. 

Tlie  rascally  Brook  Watson  then  set  nut  for  London 
in  great  haste,  expecting  the  reward  o:  hw.  zeal ;  but  the 
ministry  received  him,  as  I  have  been  i'lice  informed, 
rather  coolly ;  for  the  minority  in  parliament  took  ad- 
vantage, arguing  that  the  opposition  of  America  to 
Great  Britain,  was  not  a  rebellion  :  If  it  is,  say  they, 
why  do  you  not  execute  Col.  Allen  according  to  law  ? 
But  the  majority  argued  that  I  ought  to  be  executed, 
and  that  the  opposition  was  really  a  rebellion,  but  that 
policy  obliged  them  not  to  do  it,  inasmuch  as  the  Con- 
gress had  then  most  prisoners  in  their  power ;  so  that 
my  being  sent  to  England,  for  the  purpose  of  being 
executed,  and  necessity  restraining  them,  was  rather  a 
foil  on  their  laws  and  authority,  and  they  consequently 
disapproved  of  my  being  sent  thither.  But  I  had 
never  heard  the  least  hint  of  those  debates,  in  parlia- 
ment, or  of  the  working  of  their  policy,  until  sometime 
after  I  left  England. 

Consequently  the  reader  will  readily  conceive  I  was 
anxious  about  my  preservation,  knowing  that  I  was  in 
the  power  of  a  haughty  and  cruel  nation,  considered 
H8  such.  Therefore,  the  first  proposition  which  I  deter- 
mined in  my  own  mind  was,  that  humanity  and  moral 
suasion  would  not  be  consulted  in  the  determining  of 
my  fate ;  and  those  that  daily  came  in  great  numbers 
out  of  curiosity  to  see  me,  both  gentle  and  simple, 
united  in  this,  that  I  would  be  hanged.  A  gentleman 
from  America,  by  the  name  of  Temple,  and  who  was 
friendly  to  me,  just  whispered  me  in  the  ear,  and  told 
me  that  bets  were  laid  in  London,  that  I  would  be  ex- 
ecuted ;  he  likewise  privately  gave  me  a  guinea,  but 
durst  say  but  little  to  me. 

However^  ao-reeably  to  my  first  negative  pro])0!^ition.^ 
that  moral  virtu©  would  not  influence  my  destinv,  I 


NAIili^VriVK   OF   ALLEiN's   CAl'TlVI'l  V.  231 

commander  of  the  r-iRHo  h,,        •   -i   '^4"^"'^^^  ^^  tlie 

S     I  »r.'        "li     If  ""•  '-auk,  pei'n,itted  me  to 
mite.    1  vvrote,  in  the  turc  part  of  tlie  letter  u  nlini-i 

tha?'  l'™  1  T  '"-"-^''-nent ;  but  withal  let  hen'k  o" 
that,  thougb  I  was  treated  as  i.  eriminal  in  EnX?,! 

comm'nlrn  •  ;;'  """"T"'"":  «f  "^^  o^ers  wliieli  tbe 
and  Zm  '    V  ?  Tn"  ™'=''™''  *"■"  ^en.  Carleton, 

o^i-^tH:t-.:tnie^XiUiti^^^^ 

■  rShtL'Xti'l^'^  r"'  i'  P-'-"'ar'r:;,eit 
u  letaimtion  should  be  found  necessary,  it  mi.r.t  I,h 

exercised  not  according  to  the  smallness  rf  my  c1  arac- 

ter  m  America,  but  in  proportion  to  the  "fporta  f™ 

ot  the  cause  for  which  I  sufered.     This  is  accwd  n! 

Th ;.  \l^r        ^^  ''■" »^'^»«*''«'««  6'«;« Mental  Co:wn«.  " 
Ihis  letter  was  written  with  the  view  that  it  sh  uH  L 
sen    to  the  ministiy  at  London,  rather  tltn  to  Co„' res, 
with  a  design  to  intimidate  the  haughty  EngUsh  Z 
ernment,  and  screen  my  neck  from  tf,  LhT      ^ 

license  Twrt^'n''''  "f^"'"'  '"'"  "'""»  ^  "Stained 

n  Fn  ^    f"'  ''dded   'Do  you  think  thk  we  are  fools 

witf  ^1?'''.?"''  """'<*  '"""^  y^"-  letter  to  ConVres 
with  instructions  to  retaliate  on  our  own  peoolf?  r 
lave  sent  yonr  letter  to  Lord  North  ,  "^,  P°P'«'  ^ 
jnward  satisfactKin,  though  I  t°iSully'Io  ef  ^d": 
with  a  pretended  resentment,  tor  I  found  that  T  h„J^ 
con^e  lankee  over  him,  and  that  the  Ster  had  'e 
to  the  iden  ical  person  I  designed  it  for.     Nor  do  I 

tCL'n'"'  ''"•"•  ^"  "'^'  '"'"d  the  d;sil«ect 

though  I  have  not  heard  any  thing  of  the  letter  since 

My  personal  treatment  l,v  iieu»™"nt  Him  It   ,      i, 

commanded  the  castle  was  very1;;:iVo!r''H:' stt 


I       i;| 


232        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREKN-MCUNTAIN  HEROES. 


l.Vh. 


ir, 


i    ! 


mi 


me  every  day  a  fine  breakfast  and  dinner  from  his  own 
table,  and  a'bottle  of  good  wine.  Another  aged  gen« 
tletnan,  wliose  name  I  cannot  recollect,  sent  me  a  good 
supper.  But  there  was  no  distinction  between  me  and 
the  privates ;  we  all  lodged  on  a  sort  of  Dutch  bunks, 
in  one  common  apartment,  and  were  allowed  straw. 
The  privates  were  well  supplied  with  provisions,  and 
with  me,  took  eft'ectual  measures  to  rid  ourselves  of  lice. 

I  could  not  but  feel,  inwardly,  extremely  anxious  for 
my  fate.  This,  I  however,  concealed  from  the  pris- 
oners, as  well  as  from  the  enemy,  who  were  perpetually 
shaking  the  halter  at  me.  I  nevertheless  treated  them 
with  scorn  and  contempt;  and  having  sent  my  letter 
to  the  ministry,  could  conceive  of  nothing  more  in  my 
power  but  to  keep  up  my  spirits,  behave  in  a  daring, 
soldier-like  manner,  that  I  might  exhibit  a  good  sample 
of  American  fortitude.  Such  a  conduct,  I  judged 
would  have  a  more  probable  tendency  to  my  preserva- 
tion than  concession  and  timidity.  This  ther  fore,  was 
my  deportment ;  and  I  had  lastly  determined  in  my 
mind,  that  if  a  cruel  death  must  inevitably  be  ray  por- 
tion, I  would  face  it  undaunted  ;  and,  though  I  greatly 
rejoice  that  I  returned  to  my  country  and  friends,  and 
to'  see  the  power  and  pride  of  Great  Britain  humbled ; 
yet  I  am  confident  I  could  then  have  died  without  the 
least  appearance  of  dismay. 

I  now  clearly  recollect  that  my  mind  was  so  re- 
solved, that  I  would  not  have  trembled  or  shewn  the 
least  fear,  as  I  was  sensible  that  it  could  not  alter  my 
fate,  nor  do  more  than  reproach  my  memory,  niake  my 
last  act  despicable  to  my  enemies,  and  eclipse  the 
other  actions  of  my  life.  For  I  reasoned  thus,  that 
nothing  was  more  common  than  for  men  to  die  with 
their  friends  around  them,  weeping  and  lamenting 
over  them,  but  not  able  to  help  them,  which  was  in  re- 
ality not  different  in  the  consequence  of  it  from  such  a 
death  as  I  was  apprehensive  of;  and,  as  death  was 
the  natural  consequence  of  animal  life  to  which  the 
laws  of  nature  subject  mankind,  to  be  timorous  and 
uneasy  as  to  the  event  and  manner  of  it,  was  inconsis- 
t(;nt  with  the  chrracter  of  a  philosopher  and  soldier. 


inconsis- 


NARRATIVK   OF  ALLEN'S   CAITIVITY.  2S3 

z'li  :r  -■  s/iVi«r  Cor 

«  wel  reat  d  a^!:^  "'  ™l!  "  ""'"J'  «"''  ^  -"'""^  ^e 
»o  well  treated  as  other  gentlemen  of  my  merit 

the^3  ^.er?,'  '"""''^"  °*'  P-P'/«-r'eame  to 
me  tba  thev  h»H  ^^  Pnsoners,  some  gentlemen  told 
me  and  deX»,l  f  "T  ''"^  ■""<='  "»  P"'-po««  '»  see 

to  make  Ztth         ™'  "  """'""'  °*  H"^««"»«.  ""d 
8w"  thlt  1,^,1!  ♦•  "1  '"  "P^'^^'^'^tion.   1  gave  lor  an- 
Then  nn.    f   ?^  *'''"'?°'"  '"  "^--y  ^^^e  of  the  Word 
life  had  belt"?  '^'""^  Tu^''"'  "^y  occupation  Tn 

profession.    He  replie/'t'E'l'e  n^'d  wr'aTt  ^ 
tZ    J^l  "'''™ '  ""'1  I  ™8  obliged  to  o™  that  I 

^toHet.  in  E^'JntZhat^Ji-:  Je  ^et^d  t  f ot 

clot'^onffnZnT?  ,'""^  *■"^•"''  '°  '-  token  out  of 
or  rlther  r,anX'  '1°  "  'P^t™  8''<"^"  ">  "'<'  castle, 
.adie'^t^rjf rd^'  t:ra„"d'h  ^ml  Tlren^-r"^ 

but  I  refused  to^take  iui:,m^t''l^nd  tus  :'Z7: 

plied  that  h«' knew  thp  Aril  --^  ^  ^^'^'   ^"^  ^e- 

^  Knew  the  Americans  very  well,  and  was 


'\ 


M 


hi 


,1  ■; 


n\ 


234        ETHAN  ALl.KN  AND  (JKKEN-MoLNTAIN  IIEUOE8. 

certuin  tlioy  could  not  btnir  tlie  Hinoll  of  powder.'  J 
replied,  tiuit  1  accepted  it  as  a  cliulUiiige,  arul  was  read^^ 
to  convince  him  on  the  spot,  that  an  American  could 
bear  the  smell  of  powder  ;  at  which  he  answered  tliat 
he  should  not  })ut  himself  on  a  par  witli  me.  1  then 
demanded  him  to  treat  the  character  of  the  Americana 
with  due  respect,  lie  answeied  that  I  was  an  Irish 
man  ;  but  I  assured  him  that  1  was  a  full  blooded 
Yankee,  and  in  line  bantered  iiim  so  mucii,  that  he  lett 
lue  in  possession  of  the  <^rouiul,  and  the  laugh  went 
against  him.  Two  clergymen  came  to  see  me,  and, 
inasmuch  as  they  behaved  with  civility,  1  returned 
them  the  same.  We  discoursed  on  several  parts  of 
moral  philosophy  and  Christianity  ;  and  they  seemed 
to  be  surprised  tliat  1  should  i)e  ac(juainted  with  such 
topics,  or  that  1  sht>uld  understand  a  syllogism,  or  reg- 
ular mode  of  argumentation.  1  am  apj)rehen8ive  my 
Canadian  dress  contributed  not  u  little  to  the  surj)rise, 
and  excitement  of  curiosity:  to  see  a  gentleman  iu 
England  regularly  dressed  and  well  behaved  would  be 
no  sight  at  all :  but  such  a  rebel  as  they  were  pieased 
to  call  me,  it  is  probable,  was  never  before  seen  in 
Euijland. 

The  prisoners  were  landed  at  Falmouth  a  few  days 
before  Christnuis,  and  ordered  on  board  of  the  Solebay 
frigate,  Capt;  Symonds,  on  the  eighth  day  of  January, 
1770,  when  our  hand  irons  were  taken  oti'.  riiis 
remove  was  in  conserjuence,  as  I  have  been  since 
informed,  of  a  writ  <  beas  corpus,  which  had  been 
procured  by  some  ge  ;men  in  England,  in  order  to 
obtain  me  my  libert}  . 

The  Solebay,  with  sundry  other  men-of-war,  and 
about  forty  transpoi'ts,  rendezvoused  at  the  cove  of 
Cork,  in  Ireland,  to  take  in  provisions  and  water. 

When  we  were  first  brought  on  board,  captain 
Symonds  ordered  all  the  prisoners,  and  most  of  the 
hands  on  board  to  go  on  the  deck,  and  caused  to  h% 
read  in  their  hearing,  a  certain  code  of  laws  or  rules, 
for  the  regulation  and  ordering  of  their  behavior ;  and 
then  in  a  sovereign  manner,  ordered  the  prisoners,  me 
in  particular,  off  the  deck,  and  never  to  come  on  it 


NABKAlIVie    OK    Ar.t.KN'fl    CAPTIVm.  235 

.Su1";;!;;['7i';''<;/h- .:;7,/'''''.'«  fo-'Sontlcnen  .„  walk. 

would  .,J'Z  t  1 ;  ";iar;„"''"  •"'"  r ''" 

irio  <lowii   tu  ti.e  caljl«  H,n    f ""."™  *°  mO'  and   t<K,k 
j.lnee.  '*  '""•  "'>'"'g  '»  mo  tliis  !«  your 

ill  i^ito 'f  heaiu,":;:d'didr.'"'  '^  '^'™''  ^  ™» - «" 

I  fbu,i  I  „::*«:     o>^'    ™T"  hi  "^  '""'"^'  """ 

'•™l.>  view  l."L'    r/wU r^ioi"" -1  •''""'  "',''« 
movement  of  In-s  tj „,„.•;  11         ,    ,     '  '"»  "J-e,  and  a 

to  do  that  clan,li"t    e  y  ;  ,  :i  'Lli?:?''?''^!''  r*^'","™' 

caj.tainenoke  tome  inn     '  "I"'  "™'  °"  '""''k-    The 
not  order  vou  imt    ?I^  ^"",  ''',«<''  ""'i  ««»'  =  ''li'l 
tl.at  at  tl'eCn  fti  me  ir.:;d'f,f   '  ■/  ''™"-«™' ''''"' 
fn-goutlemon  to  walk     tl  "    i  w «  n",  ''''?  !',',«  '''"=« 
i.ad  not  been  properl,  lntZi:^o^r\^^2^^^ 

wards,  had   ordere  I  me  off  !„'  ■■'•'"  "'"''«  "»"'- 

would  direetiy  atWw"  ds  ^o  onnS'Teli'"'  h'-  """ 
C"miMand  hi,s  slaves  •  fl.ot  T        ^      '  '"Hmg  him  to 

"  nght  to  walk  Se  el^- ^Vi^ ''T""  "'"'  '""^ 
ordered  me  off,  I  obeyed  not  out  J  h  .  "  '"'P"'''^y 
but  to  bet  an  eiamule  tn  Vh!  k-  .  *  "''edience  to  him, 
obey  h>m.  ^^^  *"  ""«  ^l"?  «  '"'ew,  who  ought  to 

eoSnrlo  l^stiZ'r"  ^'''-^  "^"'^  ^'-k  i.,ac. 

a  ".an.,f-war   thon4    he*^  «™*''"/'™  "^  "^'^  <'''?"">'  "f 
walks  with  hfe    eS„„^'  'T'^""'"*.  nay  commonly, 

When  a  cap  "  n  fro  nTnn  ,'  '!.""  "°  ""'''"g''™  are  by 
'"iK.r  gentlemen  to  tlu' k;.w„rf'''"^"'''-J  "■"«.  and  the 


''I', 


I    -I 
I 


230        KTHAN  ALLKN  AND  OREKN-MOUNTAIN  HEKOES. 


|i    ' 


V 


"] 


fl  1 


rrjf 


tit  t 
III  1 


!i  4 


It  was  but  u  few  niglitK  1  lodged  in  the  cable  tier, 
before  I  gained  an  acquaintance  with  the  master  of 
arms,  his  name  was  Cxillegan,  an  Irishman,  wlio  waw  a 
generous  and  well  disjwsed  man,  and  in  a  friendly 
manner  made;  me  an  otter  of  living  with  him  in  a  little 
birth,  which  was  allotted  him  between  decks,  and  en- 
closed in  canvass;  his  preferment  on  board  was  about 
equal  to  that  of  a  sergeant  in  a  regiment.  1  was  com- 
])aratively  hapj)v  in  the  acce])tance  of  his  clemency, 
and  lived  with  him  in  friendship  till  the  frigate  an- 
chored in  the  harbor  of  Cape  Fear,  North  Carolina,  in 
America. 

JN'othing  of  material  consequence  happened  till  the 
fleet  rendezvoused  at  the  cove  of  Cork,  except  a  vio- 
lent storm  which  brought  old  hardy  sailors  to  their 
prayers.  It  was  soon  rumored  in  Cork  that  1  was  on 
board  the  Sole  bay,  with  a  number  of  j)ri8oners  from 
America  ;  upon  which  Messrs.  Clark  &  Hays,  mei^ 
chants  in  company,  and  a  number  of  other  benevo- 
lently disposed  gentlemen,  contril)uted  largely  to  the 
relief  and  support  of  the  prisoners,  who  were  thirty- 
four  in  number,  and  in  very  needy  circumstances.  A 
suit  of  clothes  from  head  to  foot,  including  an  overcoat 
or  surtout,  and  two  shirts  weie  bestowed  upon  each  of 
them.  My  suit  I  received  in  superfine  broadcloths, 
Buflicient  for  two  jackets  and  two  pair  of  breeches, 
overplus  of  a  suit  throughout,  eight  fine  Holland  shirts 
and  socks  ready  made,  with  a  number  of  ])air8  of  silk 
and  worsted  hose,  two  pair  of  slioes,  two  beaver  hats, 
one  of  wiiich  was  sent  me  richly  laced  with  gold,  by 
James  Bon  well.  The  Irish  gentlemen  furthermore 
made  a  large  gratuity  of  wines  of  the  best  sort,  spirits. 


gin,  loaf  and  urown  sugar,  tea  and  chocolate,  with  a 
large  round  of  pickled  beef,  and  a  number  of  fat  tui-- 
kies,  with  many  otiier  articles,  for  my  sea  stores,  to(y 
tedious  to  mention  here.  To  the  privates  they  bestowed 
on  each  man  two  pounds  of  tea,  and  six  pounds  ot 
brown  sugar.  These  articles  were  received  on  board 
at  a  time  when  the  captain  and  flrst  lieutenant  A'ere 
gone  on  shore,  by  the  permission  of  the  second  lieu- 
tenant, a  handsome  young  gentleman,  who  was  thei? 


NAKRATIVK   OF   Al.r.Kx's    rAITIV.TV.  gg; 

or  it.     Air  I  ay"  one  of    '^^^^^  superiluitiea 

came  ou  boa  7arHlLHw^    '"?'''  »^etbr.-„ientioned, 

fbr  that  the  .^ontle.nen  ot'  £k  ZJ;"  I ;  d  ,!""  J^'^^  ' 
Bea  stores  eciual  to  tlwif  nf  fV.,    "^7'."""^^'  ^o  make  my 

I.e  made  an\,«ir  ot       o  It  'k  ^Jurw) ''  ^''.!  «^^«'^'^/ 
port  tliem  ;  but  I  know  tM    wo.fh  h    7''''^^^'  ^^  '"i^ 
crown  all,  did  send  me  Iv  nnn  '  "^'^"'J'''-     ^"'^  ^^ 

outlconid  not  recrcil^  rec    ITn^r^^^ 
^wn  feeliiiirs  as  iMrn'rrJ  !•  \        .1  ^  *"^  whole  to   my 

•iee;  and  fl^'fo  Sved'Ur.T'''™™'  °*' ''™^ 
»nd  am  confident,  not  only  from  h  »/"'""'*'.''"'/' 
present  well-timed  geneio^v    h„f   ,•  "?  "*  ""' 

((..aintance  with  gentlemen  ;^f  ,|^'  ''T  "^  [''S^  »<=- 
..eople  they  excel  fn  libTS/lnd    . 'vC''  ''"'  "^  " 

4rarntn;:stn:t'tbt;;;^^^ 

;ate  bv  the  damned  rebro/C/a'd  -TtV  ?" 
took  away  all  mv  linimrc  T,/'^®^^^^^  '.  ^e  therefore 
some  of  the  wine  whip?T     ^^^^^"^-j" motioned,   except 

of  lieutenant  Dou^la  f    Th/f!fJ!!^  f"^  ^?  P"^r  ^'^vor 


consequenc     rrcSed  and  T^F  ''''^  IT'^   ^"^  ■" 

sugar/  which^ld  beeV'^v  rl'S'  '"-^'^  ^^^  "^^^ 
confiscated   it   to  the   use^nf  fl,!    ^^^^ ,  P^isonei's,  and 

clothing  was  no?  taken  away  but  th^e'n^'T  ^"^ 
forced  to  do  duty  on  boarH^'  ^^\}^^  VP'^^tes  were 
a  boat  to  the  sidnX  ;>?  f''*^^'^^'''^'^^^« 
asked  a  gentlenTa;^•n  it'  Tnty\rai7:t/r7"^^ 
"'"  "■"'  "'"^  "■"^-''^^'l  that  he  was^  se„t""to  delt;; 


]i-,THAN   ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEKOES. 


m 


w 


i    1 
;    j 


Rome  sea  stores  to  Col.  Allen,  which  if  I  remember 
right,  lie  said  were  sent  from  Dublin  ;  but  ^the  captain 
damned  him  heartily,  ordering  him  away  from  the 
sliip,  and  would  not  sufler  him  to  deliver  the  stores.  I 
was  furthermore  informed  that  the  gentlemen  in  Cork, 
requested  of  captain  Symonds,  that  I  might  be  allowed 
to  come  into  the  city,  and  that  they  would  be  responsi- 
ble I  should  return  to  the  frigate  at  a  given  time,  which 
was  denied  them. 

We  sailed  from  England  on  the  8th  day  of  January, 
and  from  the  cove  of  Cork  on  the  12th  day  of  February. 
Just  before  we  sailed,  the  prisoners  with  me  were  di- 
vided, and  put  on  board  three  different  ships  of  war. 
This  gave  me  some  uneasiness,  for  they  were  to  a  man 
zealous  in  thf  'ause  of  liberty,  and  behaved  with  a 
becoming  fortitude  in  the  various  scenes  of  theii 
captivity ;  but  those,  who  were  distributed  on  board 
other  ships  of  war  were  much  better  used  than  those 
who  tarried  with  me,  as  appeared  afterwards.  When 
the  fleet,  consisting  of  about  forty-five  sail,  including 
five  men  of  war,  sailed  from  the  cove  with  a  fresh 
breeze,  the  appearance  was  beautiful,  abstracted  from 
the  unjust  and  l)loody  designs  they  had  in  view.  We 
had  not  sailed  many  days,  before  a  mighty  storm  arose, 
which  lasted  near  twenty-four  hours  withotit  intermis- 
sion. The  wind  blew  with  relentless  fury,  and  no  man 
Gould  remain  on  deck,  except  he  was  lashed  fast,  for 
the  waves  rolled  over  the  deck  by  turns,  with  a  forcible 
rapidity,  and  every  soul  on  board  was  anxious  for  the 
preservation  of  the  siiip,  alias,  their  lives.  In  this  storm 
tiie  Thunder-bomb  man  of  war  sprang  a  leak,  and  was 
afterwards  floated  to  some  part  to  the  coast  of  England, 
and  the  crew  saved.  We  were  then  said  to  be  in  the 
Bay  of  Biscay.  After  the  storm  abated,  I  could  plainly 
discern  the  prisoners  were  better  used  for  some  consid- 
erable time. 

Nothing  of  consequence  happened  after  this,  till  we 
sailed  to  the  island  of  Madeira,  except  a  certain  favor 
1  had  received  of  captain  Symonds,  in  consecpience 
of  an  application  I  made  to  him  for  the  privilege  of 
his  tailor  to  make  me  a  suit  of  cloth*-^3  of  the  cloth 


rm  arose. 


NAliRATlYE    .,F   ALLEN  8    CAPTIVITY.  239 

bestowed    on   me   in   Irelflnrl    ^^\  •  u    , 

granted.     I  could  then  walk  the  di  V  \  ^^^"^^^"^^J 

better  grace.     When  w!   hi      ^f  ^  w,th  a  seeming 

a^K.hore\  sundry 'ntlZ  ^^'^'^'^^  ^"3 

shore,  who  I  concTnrlp  1^  .i  ^^'^  ^^P^'^'"  ^^^nt  on 
the  fricrate  .  \inon  wlr  V^?  *^'^  '""'"^^  that  I  was  in 
osity  was  agairexcted  fo^'"  'T^^  ''^^^  ^"^'^  ^^ner 
sent  his  clelk  on  board'  to  if  ^^"^^"^^'^^'^^- tbat  nation 
cept  a  sea  store  f^omhfm  n.^r'^'^  '  "'"•  ^^  ^  ^^^"^^  ^«- 
ter  I  made  knownTotr'inl"^^'^  .""'""•  ^^''  ^"^t- 
^^dio  readily  graced  me  ffpff'^"'^^'"^-."^"^  I>oughsB, 
could   be  SSron  l.fiT'-P'^'^l^'^^^^^ 

to  serve  me  notwit  ll/r  tt  '  "  ^^^'^"^^  ^^  ^""^ 
with  before.  So  I  S^^d  ?hp  position  he  met 
■nform  him  tha^w^^'^et^  '^''^   '^ 

charity,  and  desired  ttl  frrf^^Xm-n  T  ''f'K'' 
utmost  despatch,  which  he  Id  -T/t  n  f  "^  '''''^''  *^^ 
captain  Svinond^  ind  h^\i'    '  ^"  ^^^^  meantime, 

im^ediativ  made't     ^-^^^^^^^^^  !-ard,  and 

same  time  beinc- fair  set  «^  1  :  /    ^^;,  ^^"^  "^'^^  ^^  the 
■nan  was  in  fU^^.f  .'^^f, -,',1: -,    ^  S"'^  ="^"'«- 

l'"'-cl,ase  of  the  purser  whnT  J  ,,''?''  '"^  ">«  '» 
cupfain  strictly  fmtdden  t  ti  J  ,  'r'''  ^"'^  "<"  «>« 
applications  tihim  for  tLt  V  Se •  h.,TT'  """^'^ 
to  me,  when  I  was  sick  wi,«  thlls     '  '"*  answer 

«.on  I  was  dead  anrfth^t  1,1  "  "'"'  "°  "">««'■  io^ 
|).-eservo  the  live^  o?  retf,  tt  wisf^dT'  '"il'""'  '» 
and  indeed  that  was  thetng Ir  fl fo^^f '  •'t!^''.' 
crew.     I  expostulated  not  onlv  w?tt,  ti,  "•  '""P ^ 

with  other  sentlemen  on  hLrrfLT       *'"'  "'"Pta'",  I)ut 
»f  6«ch  „sS„e  ;rferr"n.ft^;  "?'„''*  ™reasonahlenes8 

ern,„e„t  in  En^'land  J  d^ot  procoeT»  •''^''''  ^°^- 
capital  oflende?,  they  should  ZTt  TZLT  '"  " 
by  DO  means  emjiowered  1,7  anv  flnt?,„  •.  -l^  "^'"''^ 
or  ^nilitary,  to  do  so  •  for  (L  t'''^  au  honty,  either  civil 
acquitted  me  by  sendin/^'e^^"!''^'^  government  had 
America,  and  tLt  thevfhould  t.t?  "'""-"f  7?  '" 
.aer  drew  a.  inference  of  impolicy    n^remTprovid^d 


240       ETHAM  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


•■(It 

pi! 


b. 


'ijferl . 


they  should  by  hard  usage  destroy  my  life ;  inasmnc  i 
as  1  might,  if  living,  redeem  one  of  their  officers ;  but 
the  ca])tain  replied,  that  he  needed  no  directions  of 
mine  how  to  treat  a  rebel ;  that  the  British  would  con- 
quer the  American  rebels,  hang  the  Congress,  and 
such  as  promoted  the  rebellion,  me  in  particular,  and 
retake  their  own  prisoners ;  so  that  my  life  was  of  _nc 
consequence  in  the  scale  of  their  policy.  I  gave  him 
for  answer  that  if  they  stayed  till  they  conquered 
America,  before  they  hanged"  me,  /should  die  of  old 
a<je,  and  desired  that  till  such  an  event  took  place,  he 
would  at  least  allow  me  to  purchase  of  the  purser,  for 
my  own  money,  such  articles  as  I  greatly  needed  ;  but 
he  would  not  permit  it,  and  when  I  reminded  him  of 
tlie  generous  and  civil  usage  that  their  prisoners  in 
captivity  in  America  met  with,  he  said  that  it  was  not 
owing  to  their  goodness,  but  to  their  timidity  ;  for, 
said  he,  they  expect  to  be  conquered,  and  therefore 
dnre  not  misuse  our  prisoners  ;  and  in  fact  this  was 
the  language  of  the  British  officers,  tUl  Burgoyne  was 
taken;  happy  event!  and  not  only  of  the  officers  but 
the  whole  British  army.  I  appeal  to  all  my  brother 
prisoners,  who  have  been  with  the  British  in  the  south- 
ern department,  for  a  confirmation  of  what  1  have 
advanced  on  this  subject.  The  surgeon  of  the  Solebay, 
wliose  name  was  North,  was  a  very  humane,  obliging 
man,  and  took  the  best  care  of  the  prisoners  who  were 
sick. 

The  third  day  of  May  we  cast  anchor  in  the  harbor 
of  Cape  Fear,  in  North  Carolina,  as  did  Sir  Peter 
IParker's  ship,  of  50  guns,  a  little  back  of  the  bar ;  for 
there  was  not  depth  of  water  for  him  to  come  into  the 
harbor.  These  two  men  of  war,  and  fourteen  sail  of 
transports  and  others,  came  after,  so  that  most  of  the 
flett  rendezvoused  at  Cape  Fear,  for  three  weeks.  The 
soldiers  on  board  the  transports  were  sickly,  in  conse- 
quence of  so  long  a  passage;  add  to  this  the  small- 
pox carried  off  many  of  them.  They  landed  on  the 
main,  and  formed  a  camp  ;  but  the  riflemen  annoyed 
them,  and  caused  them  to  move  to  an  island  in  the 
harbor;  but  such  cursing  of  riflemen  I  never  hear<l. 


0E8. 

inasmnc  > 
icers;  but 
ections  of 
vould  con- 
gress, and 
cular,  and 
was  of  nc 

gave  him 
conquered 
die  of  old 
c  place,  he 
purser,  for 
eded ;  but 
ed  him  of 
'isoners  in 
it  was  not 
;dity  ;  for, 
I  therefore 
;t  this  was 
goyne  was 
ifficers  but 
ny  brother 

the  south- 
at  I  have 
le  Solebay, 
e,  obliging 
i  who  were 

the  harbor 
Sir  Peter 
le  bar;  for 
ne  into  the 
een  sail  of 
nost  of  the 
eeks.  The 
1^,  in  conse- 
the  small- 
led  on  the 
n  annoved 
and  in  the 
r  heard. 


NAinUTIVE   OP   alLEn'8   CAPTIVITY.  241 

detachments  said  they  lost  one  man     hnf  n  ^^'^ 

who  was  with  them    nnS   I       ^      i'     "^  *  ^^^^'^  "^^» 

would  give  no  ouarir     t.  •  ^^'^If'gn   for  they 

ana  fell  Feter  Parker  was  about  to  sail  with  tu  i  ^' 
forces  under  the  eommaud  of  Gen  cih  toV  f' r  ',?'' 
reduction  of  Charleston,  the  capito!  of  So  ho  ,•'" 
and  when  I  heard  of  hi  defSt'^n  Halifax  it'"''"*' 
inexpressible  satisfaction  ""'  "  ^ave  me 

against   ever,  .^d,"'^  :^.^''^;'2j't^Z 


IK'. 


■liLJ- 

Pul- 


liii  "',1 


I'  i'  i     I 

" :  'si 


i 


III 

,1 

'  i ! 
'1 

M  i 


I.*    1 


'i     * 


If" 


M 


t  I 


242        KI'IIAN   ALLEN  ASH  GRKEX-MOONTAIN  HFHOES. 

fitamped  with  royalty;  and  being  by  nature  undcr- 
witted,  his  wrath  whs  lieavier  than  the  others,  or  at  least 
his  mind  was  in  no  instance  liable  to  be  diverted   by 

food  sense,  humour  or  bravery,  of  which  Synionus  was 
y  turns  susceptible.  A  Capt.  Francis  Proctor  was 
added  to  our  number  of  prisoners  when  we  were  first 
put  on  board  this  ship.  This  gentleman  had  formerly 
belonged  to  the  English  service.  The  captain,  and  ill 
fine,  all  the  gentlemen  of  the  ship  were  very  much 
incensed  against  him,  and  put  him  in  irons  without 
the  least  provocation,  and  he  was  continued  in  this 
miserable  situation  about  three  months.  In  this  pas- 
sage the  prisoners  were  infected  with  the  scurvy,  some 
more  and  some  less,  but  most  of  them  severely.  The 
ship's  crew  wa-s  to  a  great  degree  troubled  with  'it,  and 
I  concluded  it  was  catchiwg.  Several  of  the  crew  died 
with  it  on  their  passage.  I  was  weak  and  feeble  in 
consequence  of  bo  long  and  cruel  a  captivity,  yet  had 
but  little  of  the  scurvy. 

The  purser  was  again  pxpvessly  forbid  by  the  cap- 
tain to  let  me  have  any  thing  out  of  his  store  ;  upon 
which  I  went  upon  deck,  and  in  the  handsomest  man- 
ner requested  the  favor  of  purchasing  a  few  necessaries 
of  the  purser,  which  was  denied  me  ;  he  furtiier  told 
me,  that  I  should  be  hanged  as  soon  as  I  arrived  at 
Halifax.  I  tried  to  reason  the  matter  with  him,  but 
found  him  proof  against  reason  ;  I  also  held  up  his 
honor  to  view,  and  his  behavior  to  me  and  the  prison- 
ers in  general,  as  being  derogatory  to  it,  but  found  his 
h(»nor  nnpenetrable.  1  tiien  endeavored  to  touch  his 
humanity,  but  found  he  had  none;  for  his  preposses- 
sion of  bigotry  to  his  own  party,  had  confirmed  him 
in  an  opinion,'^that  no  humanity  was  due  to  unroyal- 
ists,  but  seemed  to  think  that  heaven  and  earth  were 
made  merely  to  gratify  the  King  and  his  creatures ; 
he  uttered  considerable  unintelligible  and  grovelling 
ideas,  a  little  tinctured  with  monarchy,  but  stood  well 
to  his  text  of  hanging  me.  lie  afterwards  forbade  his 
surgeon  to  administer  any  help  to  the  sick  prisoners. 
1  was  every  night  shut  down  in  the  cable  tier,  with  the 
rest  of  the*^prisouer8,  aud  we  all  lived  miserably  while 


i\'\ 


KAUBATIVE   OF  ALLEn's   CAPTIVITY.  243 

ti.e  names  of  the  others  I  rf^       .  """'^f  ™'  P'"™'«. 

oth:rj-^rsr„to7;^r  ^'"^ '''-'"  ^^ 

sometime  in  the   firef   tT^^i;'   i-   t 

anchor  at  the  Hook  off  LrYor'/i^^^      ^"  '"^^  '^ 
^)nt  three  davs  •  in  wi  •  ,   !•    ^"^^  where  we  remained 

rCemn  fi  *^i  i'  ^^'^^^^  ^^^^  Governor  Trvon  Mr 
IVemp  the  old  attorney  general  of  AW  v  i  '  ^' 
several    other  7)erfidinn«   n^T  ^  ■^'^  ^^'  ^^^ 

lieutenant,  on  the  M'ind^aSe^o7  ft        '^t*^'"  ^"^ 
Then   they  wenT  w  h  Vh  f  ?'-«<"'-M"™toin  Boys. 

:'t'Tr;Hr"r''- 

office,  of  ^lr:n"ihesr;;lW„r-':  ^ 

vv  th  enr-^h      T.,^      J  '^  P    '  ^"^  Partly  covered 

Co     hcirrelief    Tl  i  nH?^  "^P"'  """^"■''^  ^''«  '"k^n 
><ort  of  mec  c ine  hnVi        •"■'.  ™"'f  "°'  P<^™itted  any 

lay  in  the  ha   .or,  n  .  S-wn  of  ifrf  "  ''°"P  ^^""''^ 
hv  several  rnen  ,  f  ,-,.  „    i.T  •  '  Halifax,  surrounded 

einstant.';!  sr:;t"t'i:e„  l^  ra.fd"  d^'  't'  '?'' 

♦han  nn/.' fln'wi     .t^'Ju  ^'°  thac  WO  had  not  more 

.^mn  one  third   ot  the  common   allowance.     We  were 


m 


244        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOHNTAIN  HEKOE8. 


li 


all  seized  with  violent  liiin<Tcr  and  faintness;  we  divi- 
ded our  scanty  allowance  as  exact  as  possible.  1  shared 
tho'  same  fate  with  the  rest,  and  though  they  offered 
me  more  than  an  even  share,  I  refused  to  accept  it,  as 
it  was  a  time  of  substantial  distress,  which  in  my 
opinion  I  ought  to  partake  equally  with  the  rest,  and 
set  an  example  of  virtue  and  fortitude  to  our  little 
commonwealth. 

1  sent  letter  after  letter  to  captain  Montague,  who 
still  had  the  care  of  us,  and  also  to  his  lieutenant, 
whose  name  I  cannot  call  to  mind,  but  could  obtain  no 
answer,  much  less  a  redress  of  grievances  ;  and  to  add 
to  the  calamity,  nearly  a  dozen  of  the  prisoners  were 
dangerously  ill  of  the  scurvy.  I  wrote  private  letters 
to  the  doctors,  to  procure,  if  possible,  some  remedy  for 
the  sick,  but  in  vain.  The  chief  physician  came  by  in 
a  boat,  so  close  that  the  oars  touched  the  sloop  that  we 
were  in,  and  I  uttered  my  complaint  in  the  genteelest 
manner  to  him,  but  he  never  so  much  as  turned  his 
head,  or  made  me  any  answer,  though  I  continued 
speaking  till  he  got  out  of  hearing.  Our  cause  then 
became  deplorable.  Still  I  kept  writing  to  the  cap- 
tain, till  he  ordered  the  guards,  as  they  told  me,  not 
to  bring  any  more  letters  from  me  to  him.  In  the 
mean  time  an  event  happened  worth  relating.  One  of 
the  men  almost  dead  with  the  scurvy,  lay  by  the  side 
of  the  sloop,  and  a  canoe  of  Indians  coming  by,  he 
purchased  Kvo  quarts  of  strawberries,  and  ate  them  at 
once,  and  it  almost  cured  him.  The  money  he  gave 
for  them,  was  all  the  money  he  had  in  the  world. 
After  that  we  tried  every  way  to  procure  more  of  that 
fruit,  reasoning  from  analogy  that  they  might  have  the 
same  effect  on  others  infested  with  the  same  disease, 
but  could  obtain  none. 

Meanwhile  the  doctor's  mate  of  the  Mercury  camo 
privately  on  board  the  prison  sloop  and  presented  me 
with  a  large  vial  of  smart  drops,  which  proved  to  be 
pood  for  the  scurvy,  though  vegetables  and  some  other 
ingredients  were  requisite  for  a  cure;  but  the  drops 
gave  at  least  a  check  to  the  disease.  This  was  a  well- 
timed  exertion  of  jmnianity,  but  the  doctor's  name  hat 


KA14KATI\'K   OF    ALLEN's    CAPTIVITY.  245 

trusted  one  of  tl,em  tlH    "?'?"*""?"  '    »">!   ^  «i"illy 

pnso^.slooMrk'n^rtll'elnrthVr^^^ 

and  wis  rea  V  anl^^,    t.   *'■'«"'">'*'"'  I»'lite  manner, 

«l.e  prisoner  ^,eti'i{|,'l'*tdwitl  T'  """"^"'^  "^"^^ 
true  report  of  matte  s'  ^oio^^nt"  a2T  T^',  '^ 
either  by  his  ordprn,.  ,-r,fl     fe^^^^^or  Arbuthnot,  who, 

the  pHs^n  ixz  hj;;^s  ^h  .r  f  ^!.f  if  ^^•^- 
srt;i;;:.^:ni!i 

The  sick  were  takl  w  i^  '^"^  ''Z  Massachusetts, 
adians,  who  were  effooHv^  ''^"'"^'  ^'^  '^'^  ^^'»- 
King's  works  and  wh'  ?!  ^''''  ^"^P'^'J^'d  in  the 
covefed  from  ' t^t^^ J^'l'^'T^^^-  ---  re- 


.|H': 


il! 


if 


We  were  on  board  tl       '  "'^'  ^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^'  «<^toher. 
habitations  ^''^^  ^"^'^  ^'^^^^^^  ^^eir  old 

room  consisted       hoin.K^  ''*   ^'^"'   'P^^i^'"« 

^'J^r,ea    jjiincijiullv  ot    excrement    tubs.     Wc 


246        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEICN-MOUNTAIN  HEROICS. 


'i  i:' ! 


.7      ! 


III!*  '& 

m 


petitioned  for  a,  reinovul  of  tlie  sick  into  the  liospitals, 
but  were  denied.  AV^e  rerronstrated  against  the  un- 
generous usage  of  being  confiued  with  the  privates, 
as  being  contrary  to  tlie  hiws  and  customs  of  nations, 
and  particuhirly  ungrateful  in  them  in  consequence  of 
the  gentleman-like  usage  M'hich  the  British  imju-isone^ 
officers  met  with  in  America  ;  and  thus  we  wearied 
ourselves,  petitioning  and  remonstrating,  but  to  no  pur- 
pose at  all  ;  for  ge?ieral  Massey,  who  commanded  at 
Halifax,  was  as  inflv'xible  as  the  devil  himself,  a  fine 
preparative  this  foi-  Mr.  Lovel,  member  of  the  Con- 
tinental Congress. 

Jiieutenant  Russell,  whom  I  have  mentioned  before, 
came  to  visit  me  in  prison,  and  assured  me  that  he  had 
doi;e  his  utmost  to  procure  my  parole  for  enlargement ; 
at  which  a  British  captain,  who  was  then  town-major, 
expressed  compassion  for  the  gentlemen  confined  in 
the  filthy  place,  and  assured  me  that  he  had  used  his 
influence  to  procure  their  enlargement  ;  his  name  was 
near  like  Ramsey.  Among  the  prisoners  there  were 
five  in  number,  who  had  a  legal  claim  to  a  parole,  a 
Mr.  Ilowland,  master  of  a  continental  armed  vessel,  a 
Mr.  Taylor,  his  mate,  and  myself. 

As  to  the  article  of  provision,  we  were  well  served, 
much  better  tiian  in  any  part  of  my  captivity  ;  and 
since  it  was  Mr.  Lovel's  misfortunes  and  mine  to  be 
prisoners,  and  in  so  wretcJied  circumstances,  I  was 
ha])py  that  we  were  together  as  a  mutual  support  to 
each  other,  and  to  the  unfortunate  prisoners  with  us. 
Our  first  attention  was  the  preservation  of  ourselves 
and  injured  little  republic  ;  the  rest  of  our  time  we 
devoted  interchangeably  to  politics  and  philosophy,  as 
patience  was  a  needful  exercise  in  so  evil  a  situation, 
but  contentment  mean  and  impracticable. 

I  had  not  been  in  this  jail  many  days,  before  a 
worthy  and  charitable  woman,  by  the  name  of  Mrs. 
Blacden,  supplied  me  with  a  good  dinner  of  fresh 
meats  every  day,  with  garden  "fruit,  and  sometimes 
with  a  bottle  of  wine  :  notwithstanding  which  I  had 
not  been  more  than  three  weeks  in  this  place  before  I 
lost  my  a]>petite  to  the  most  delicious  food,  by  the  I'ai] 


NARRATITE 


OF  alo.nV  c/rTivrir. 


247 


the  Solebay  tiigafe  whim  1,^  »„  .  f  '""«»»■»!"  of 
and  lauffhed  hirn'm,,  f  ""™'l".'"'  '«  strike  him, 
slave.     ^  ""'  "'  '•■"'"^'^"  »f  "Sing  him  as  a 

.S.ew  wLrerlJ"  V  ker  "s  ,1^1  T""?'  "i-'P^^^,-  ^ 
.'l.e,„  could  not  help  tl  ^C  '  'VtlL  f™™'  1 
in   my  own  minri  thof  "^"^^^^V^*     ^^t  iust  1  reasoned 

;nud/.e  ofTa^^itriZo-nr     litf  g^t  as^ 

myself  ntrf-  "'*"  ""'"''<'•      i'81""-e  lovel    and 

>™  «    I  eo„ce"Z.f''S""","  ?"'  r^'-^'^'y  """  <=""'' 
"sage,  to  no     mtoi      /"il  ''' '"  "'^''""  S«"':^'man-Iiko 

UvekJJt^"  I  P««s,bly  could  with  my  frfend 
Eri'-«i,  f  '  ^,V-  ^'"*  contents  of  t  was  to  jrive  the 
tne  •a™cter'"''Thl-""'  'Zr  '"'"  -^-''5^-1,  the  ? 
not  bear  to  se;  bhaJZ  '/•"  TT!'  *"'■  ''«  <=°»W 
transparent  etter  wMch  \  "".T  '  ''t*^''""'-^-  ''"  '^at 
himsilf  in  a  »reat  .^^ .  ,i  f  v  '""J ' ,''«  ^^'^'-'^fove  put 
to  a  number  of  Br  ;S  !ffl    '"'  ""^.^^owed  the  letter 

Smith  of  the  Lalf  t  t!     f ''•'""'"',"'"'y  '»  <^»Ptoin 
him    In    J-  ,  "gate,  who,  instead  of  ioinino'  wi'h 

™n  whicr/e!;ster"T?''t'^ "-  'p«" »'"" 

|.art  of  TreW  nea  ,tt  m!-  ''r  '»^™  do  you  take  the 
tliat  he  rati  er  sf  ok'  hk  r^P'"'"  ^""'t''  answered 
dissentio"1ro;^,';'^',^et:een'"Them''"'^"""  T  ' 
S  fw^^f tiTf'  -'^  r-s  ot'th^c^X™ 
from  captain  sS",  ^  '  ^"'"'™^"  «*»  ^ad  it 

to  gronloar'f^ff  r ''"'V"''  P"??"''"  '^''^  -"ered 

Noi  YorkTbt^'t^t,'?;':'^!;:''^!."""^''  -«?  "-o-d  *» 


board,  and 


two  of  them 
wtre  left  at   Ilalifi 


11 


* 


ere  not  tibJe  to  go  on 
IX ;  one  died  ;  and  the 


4: 


248 


KTHAN  ALLKN  AND  OUKKN-MOIINTAIN  UKROKS. 


<l  ** 


Pi 


1^ 


otlier  rccovcuvJ.  Tliis  wjih  ji'hout  tlic  12tli  of  October, 
and  soon  at'tor  wi'  liiul  tjjot  on  board,  tlio  captain  sent 
for  ine  in  j)arti('ular  to  cojno  on  tlio  (juarter  deck.  I 
went,  not  knowing  that  it  waH  captain  Smitii,  or  bis 
sliip,  at  that  time,  jind  expected  to  meet  the  wanie  rig- 
orous usa<;e  I  had  commonly  met  with,  and  ])renared 
my  mind  accord inijiy  ;  but  wbi'n  I  came  on  deck,  the 
captain  met  me  with  bis  band,  web-omed  me  to  Ids 
ship,  invited  me  to  dine  with  Iiim  that  (biy,  and  as- 
sured me  that  I  should  be  treated  as  a  ^entlenum,  and 
that  be  luid  ^iven  orders,  that  I  shonld  be  treated  with 
respect  by  tlie  shjj)'s  crew.  This  was  so  unexpected 
and  sudden  a  transition,  that  it  drew  tears  from  my 
eyes,  which  all  the  ill  usai^e  I  bad  before  uuit  with, 
was  not  able  to  ])roduce,  nor  (!0uld  1  at  lirst  hardly 
speak,  but  soon  recovered  myt^elf  and  expressed  my 
gratitude  for  so  unexpected  a  favor  ;  and  let  liiin  know 
that  I  felt  anxiety  of  mind  in  reflecting  that  his  sit- 
nation  and  mine  was  such,  that  it  was  not  probable 
tha*^  it  would  ever  be  in  my  power  to  return  tbe  favor. 
Ca})tain  Smith  replied,  that  be  bad  no  reward  in  view, 
but  only  treated  me  as  a  gentleman  ougbt  to  be 
treated  ;  be  said  this  is  a  mutable  world,  and  one  gen- 
tleman never  knows  but  it  may  be  in  bis  power  to  help 
another.  Soon  after  I  found  this  to  be  the  same  cap- 
tain Smitb  who  took  my  part  against  general  Massey  ; 
out  he  never  mentioned  any  thing  of  it  to  me,  and  I 
thought  it  impolite  in  me  to  interrogate  him,  as  to  any 
disputes  which  might  have  arisen  between  him  and  the 
general  on  my  account,  as  I  was  a  prisoner,  and  that  it 
was  at  his  option  to  make  free  with  me  on  that  subject, 
if  he  pleased  ;  and  if  be  did  not,  I  might  take  it  for 
granted  that  it  would  be  unpleasing  for  me  to  query 
about  it,  though  I  had  a  strong  propensity  to  converse 
with  him  on  that  subject. 

I  dined  with  the  captain  agreeable  to  his  invitation, 
and  oftentimes  with  the  lieutenant,  in  the  gun-room, 
but  in  general  ate  and  drank  with  my  friend  Lovel 
and  the  other  gentlemen  who  were  prisoners  with  me, 
where  I  also  slept. 

We  had  a  little  bhth  enclosed  with  canvas,  between 


NAHUATIVK    OK    ALL.  x's   (AnivITT.  249 

tCco"r  ten"';;'  Tr  ."'■'''■'""  "f  ..-..viHi,,,,; 

was  add,.,!    '  '"■''•  '"'""K  ''"'»  '"^.m  |.,-i„„„,., 

"ncler  o  fee  \?t^lM       •    '^T'''  ''^'''^'''    ^"'1',  with  ua 

that  a"st";4partront^;'/' ,';;,"  ','';''  ''■^""''«"  »r-'-'' 

conspiracv  Sn  I  ,mr..?' ,        "'<  "  "I' «  crew  was  in  the 
witl,  mnT;,  ^«.  "'«'";»«.  "'"'  tho  .gentleman  that  was 

fact,  it  sho,  d  n  H  bedone     LZ^IT  ""''  """'  "' 
ins.  my  friend  Lovol  c^  «™fe  1  ^ha  ^^  C^'d''""'V 

dosiVn      W  1  ;-^f      ^""'l  ^^'"^y  '^''^  "ot  execute  their 

bonor  tl.„^      to  remain    neuter,   and  tiiat    the    same 
„r  i  !.    •'  S™''^''d  captain   Sraitli's  life,  would  also 

fo  reve^'th;  ""^  '■'. "»«  »?-*"  ¥  those  pisenttt 
to  reveal  the  conspiracy,  to  the  intent  that  no  man 


2."»0         KTIIAN  XIA.KS  AND  OREKN-AKJL  NTA[N  HKKOK8. 


^  Jili 


;.':  r 


111: 


h>. 


-i 


I: 


Hhould  1)0  put  to   death,  in  conscHiuoMce  of  wlmt  had 
been  proji'ctod  ;  an  1  captain  lUuk  anil  liia  colleague 
wont  to   stiilc)  the  matter  ainon^r  their  asHociates.     I 
could  not   help  ca!lin<r  to    mind   wiiat  cai)tain  Smith 
said  to   me,  \vhen  1  lir»t  came  on   board  :    ''This  is  a 
mutablo  world,  and  one  gentleman  never  knows  but 
that  it  may  be  in  liis  power  to  help  another."    Captain 
Smith   and   his  oMicers  Btill    behaved  with  their  usual 
courtesy,  and  [  never  heard  any  more  of  the  conspiracy. 
We  arrived^  before  New-YoVk,  and  cast  anchor  the 
hitter   i)art  of   October,   where  we  remained    several 
days,  and  where  captain  Smith  informed  me,  that  lie 
had  reconnnended   me  to  admiral   Howe  and  general 
Sir  Wm.  n<»we,  as  a  gontlisman  of  honor  and  veracity, 
ami  desired  that  I  might  be  treated  as  such.      Ca|)tain 
Eurk  was  then  ordered  on  board  a  prison-ship  in  the 
harbor      I  took  my  leave  of  captain  Smith,  and  with 
the  other  prisoutis,  was   sent  on   board   a  transport 
ship,  which  biy  in  tiie  harbor,  commanded   by  captain 
(>raige,  who  took  uw,  into  the  cabin  witii  him  and   liis 
lieutenant.      I    fared  as    they  did,  and  was  in  every 
respect  well  treated,  in  consequence  of  dire(;tion8  from 
captain  Smith.      In  a  f^w  weeks  after  this  1  had  the 
iuippiness  to  part  with  my  friend  Lovel,  for  his  sake, 
whom  the  enemy  ali'ected  to  treat  as  a  private;  he  was 
a  g(mtleman  of  rnei-it,  and  liberally  educated,  but  had 
no  commission  ;  they  maligned   him  on  account  of  liis 
unshaken  attachment  to  the  cause  of  his  country.     He 
was  exchanged  for  a  governor  Phili])  Skene  \)f  the 
British.    I  was  continued  in  this  ship  till  the  latter  part 
ot  November,  where  I  contracted  an  acquaintance  with 
the  captain  of  the  British;  his  name  has  slipped  my 
memory.     lie  was  wliat  we  may  call  a  genteel,  hearty 
tellow.     1  remember  an  expression  of  his  over  a  bottle 
ot  wine,  to  this  import:    -That  therj  is  a  greatness 
ot  soul  tor  personal  friendship  to  subsist  between  you 
and   me,  as  we  are  U])on  opposite  sides,  and  may  at 
another  day  be  obliged  to  face  each  other  in  the  field." 
I  am  conhdent  that  he  was  as  faithful  as  any  officer  in 
the  IJritish  army.     At  auotlier  sitting  he  offered  to  bet 
a  (b)zen  ot  wine,  that  fort  Washington  would  be  in  the 


NAKKATIVK    o.     AI.LKn's    CAPTIVITT.  Hol 

^'fl«e;  and  rlu.  tl  i  '      >        '^  ^'^u'-i  i'uvo  ho.-n  th« 

«onKMnonrhsufrerw:r:.t';"^^^^^^^^^ 

Hok.owlnl,^    1  ;,,A'"^;'';f>^'''*'''tio"o<l  the  hj    1 

I  luid  fairly  lo  i^  I  'k  ,/'^'  vas  <,u.te  too  c^enoroun,  as 
would  not^s  •  r  tlu  m  f^^'';  '"  \^'T-^^^'''''''^^ln-Boys 
wa8  all  in  ^.,0  1  In  nor      iZ"  M  ^^^^'^'ton.     Tlds 

have  seen  hhn  after  itdeL tat  I  e  '" '  """,^''"'  ^^ 
not.     It  wag  cuHfoniarv  fir  n  '/     ""'^"^^"'  ^*"<^  ^id 

oners,  which  wi:':  S  lan.Sd"''or  '""''  ^''«  P^'^ 
of  tories  tru,n  Connee  ic'i  t^n    i        • '  ^'^''^'^  composed 

^'"<1    Green  Farn/s      Tl.    '  V""^^->'  ^^'  ^^^^'''^^^ 

Tiiey  were  4rv     ill  ,|.'".«^'/'^-^:^^"t's  name  was  Jioit. 

c'ou;;frv,  8wa,'^.^re  "/  ,K  ;."/■  'Tf^'f  "^^^^'"^^  ^ho 
^^xclai.ned  bitter  vm!;.  '^'^'^^  *"  ^''^'''-  '<''^^^  a"d 

they  were  pwj  S^  S^.^brf  ^7"^'^^^'^'  ^ 

themselves  with   s-ivina-    fi    f    '/  ^  ^"''^'^^  contented 

overcome,  tireyhSte  we  I  :''"  f'l  ^^""^^'^^  ^^^^« 
alty  out  of  the  es  "  es  of  tl^  T'"'^'f  ^^^^'  ^h^ir  loy- 
confiscated.     ThL  1  w/m  ^  ''^ 

of  the   torles,a;rer     "^   vea"^^^^^^^^^  |^^"--'^^- 

American  coast.  I  heard  InndrvS  ,?  ^^^"^  «"  tho 
the  British  generals  hVd  eLT  7;  ^  ^^^^"  "^'^^^e,  that 
for  their  Jos'ses  dis-t  noin^f  ^t"^  ^^T  ^°  ^^^'^  ^^^^rd 
oahe  forfeited  tire^^^^^^^^^^^^^  -"f.-Penditures,  out 

t- .W.t  me  what  to  ^io  w  tht  Jes'IlL^^^  ''"'^y 

influence  can  .ro      For  ;"  ^^^^^.^^^ates,  as  far  as  my 

between  wlnV^and  torv  Tu'  l^  ^  ^""^^  ^^  ^^^^^^ 
''-•e  lost  ali:  "  con  IqueT  :  Tt  'tifo  "rrt'^'J.^''^ 
tones,  and  their  good  friends  the  Pn  I  ^^'''  ?^  ^''" 
no  more  than  ricrht  the  tor;/«  li  1 1^^'^' '  """'^  '^  ^« 
risk,  in  consequence  of  the  nW  V    """i^'u ''^"  ^^'^  «^'"e 

of  this  more  \viH   I,o  otertd    ''  h  '^'  ^^">^-     ^"* 
narrative.  observed  in  the  sequel  of  this 

S^me  of  thu  last  days  of  ^^ovemKp.    fi 

J*  01  _.o\emt)er,  the  prisoners 


m 


252 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


f      '^ 


were  landed  at  New- York,  and  I  was  admitted  to  paroU^ 
with  the  otlier  officers,  viz :  Proctor,  Howland,  and 
Taylor.  The  privates  were  put  into  filthy  chnrches  in 
New- York,  with  the  distressed  prisoners  that  were  takeu 
at  Fort  Washington  ;  and  the  second  night,  sergeant 
Roger  Moore,  who  was  bold  and  enterprising,  found 
means  to  make  his  escape  with  every  of  the  remaining 
prisoners  that  were  taken  with  me,  except  three,  who 
were  soon  after  exchanged.  So  that  out  of  thirty-one 
prisoners,  who  went  with  me  the  round  exhibited  in 
these  sheets,  two  only  died  with  the  enemy,  and  three 
only  were  exchanged  ;  one  of  whom  died  after  he  came 
within  our  lines  •  all  the  rest,  at  different  times,  made 
their  escape  from  the  enemy. 

I  now  found  myself  on  parole,  and  restricted  to  the 
limits  of  the  city  of  New-York,  where  I  soon -projected 
means  to  live  in  some  measure  agreeably  to  my  rank, 
though  I  was  destitute  of  cash.  My  constitution  was 
almost  worn  out  by  such  a  long  and  barbarous  captivity. 
The  enemy  gave  out  that  I  was  crazy,  and  wholly  un- 
manned, but  my  vitals  held  sound,  nor  was  I  delirious 
any  more  than  I  had  been  from  youth  up;  but  my 
extreme  circumstances,  at  certain  times,  rendered  it 
politic  to  act  in  some  measure  the  madman  ;  and  in 
consequence  of  a  regular  diet  and  exercise,  my  blood 
recruited,  and  my  nerves  in  a  great  measure  recovered 
their  former  tone,  strength  and  usefulness,  in  the  course 
of  six  months. 

I  next  invite  the  reader  to  a  retrospective  sight  and 
consideration  of  the  doleful  scene  of  inhumanity  ex- 
ercised by  general  Sir  William  Howe,  and  the  army 
under  his  command,  towards  the  prisoners  taken  on 
Long-Island,  on  the  27tii  of  August,  1776;  sundry  of 
whom  were,  in  an  inhuman  and  barbarous  manner, 
murdered  after  they  had  surrendered  their  arms;  par- 
ticularly a  general "Odel,  or  Woodhull,  of  tiie  militia, 
who  was  hacked  to  pieces  with  cutlasses,  when  alive, 
by  the  light  horpemen,  and  a  captain  Fellows,  of  the 
continental  army,  who  was  thrust  througli  with  a  bay- 
onet, of  which  wound  he  died  instantly.  Sundry  othei-a 
Were  liaLged  up  by  the  neck  till  they  were  dead  ;  five 


iition  was 


BARRATIVE   OF  ALLEs'e   CAPTIVITY.  253 

ronts,Wd1x'cet''M  T^  '""'  """  *'">out  any  rea- 

those  wlio  had  thofnkfW    P'^';'<^''7,'»g-     And  indeed 
at  Fort  Washington    „,?"'  '"  ?"  ""°  "^'^■•''  '"'"ds 
lowing,  met  w  "if  ven  linf„  Tlf'  "''  ^"^^ber  fol 
they  were  relerved  Z,m  ^    "  ■"'  °'?S'^'  ^^'^''P'  that 
an/die  with  hunger    T fit  4    "''  ^'"",'  '°  '^'"'■'■'' 
to  any  vanquishpd   ,>'»..         '   ■  f  "'"'''  '•«'"=1'  applied 
who  were  irtcontlnTn?', """'';"'  "'S^''^   *«  «">k. 
August  afoesa^TwLhoS  If  T'  ""  "'^  27th   of 
to  «aaetify  whatever  cn-eftie^ \t" T'"^^'^'^T"' 
'»«et   death   itself  not   excepted  \rt„  J"      '"^   '" 
«a.  .Meh  would  .wen'^:.;'na^.rtiv':fKe;;nd 

roll:  rei;trowd'et7nto"'':h"f^  ""-""^""^  '»  ^^- 
with  slavish  Helstn    '"'"  . '='>»''<=''<=8.   and   environed 

language,  who  we.ree„fr a"'  ^PT'<=  °*' "  ^'™S« 
but%ru%,V  anfd  s  ,  ion  ^a"nd"?t  Zr  ""if' ■""'«" 
less  Britons  whose  mode  nf  L  ■  ""■*'  ''>"  '"erci- 

mtellisrible  in  fM»  "       .    ^ommnineating  ideas  hein.. 

and  iSt  hd  less"anT,,r"f^  ""'Z'"  ''"''"li™ 
the  hellish  deligl7:„.r  u-iS  ""of  th"'tf  •""  ""' 
them  as  they  were  dying  by  hundred,  Tl'  °™'' 
much  for  me  to  lienr  «^ P  nunaieds.     nm  was  too 

tories  exult"  ir  over  fh/d„  ,?"?■""""• '  *'"•  ^  ^"w  the 
cou„tryme„.''^f  ^^.t''^^;^^  „»  J- »  their  murdered 
seen  sundrv  of  the  orison,™  '^  M  "hiirches,  and 

in  consequence  of  verv  hnn  !?  ''?°""''  "f  death, 

and  very?  nea?  d1alh,\  ri"';::  °^  ':^,-!''^'^<";"-«' 
pleading  for  God's  sntp  i'J.        ff-       ^"^P^'   others 

the  sa,^e  time 's^itil^g 'SII^M^^STm  "' 
e:rcans  saluted  mv  ears  nnW  !i  •  ^-  -^-^'^IJo^^ 
imprinted  on  every  of  heln  t^'"^'  '^'''''^  ^^  ^^■ 
in   these  churches  in  oon^Ln  '^""^^"f  \««s-     The  Ulth 

almost  beyond  de'script^^r^Tr"/  '^'  ^"^^«'  ^^« 
with  excrements      ThZ      ^\f  ,^^^^^  were  covered 


!  V   . 


Srf    I 


II-     I 


ii 

fifl 

TO 


254        ETHAN  ALf.FCN  AM)  OKEK.V-MOUWTAIN  HEJiOES. 

dead,  at  the  same  time,  lyiMg  among  the  excrements 
of  their  bodies. 

It  was  a  common  practice  with  the  enemy,  to  con- 
vey tlie  dead  from  these  filthy  places,  in  carts,  to  be 
eli.o^htly  buried,  and  1  have  seen  whole  gangs  of  tories 
making  derision,  and  exulting  over  the  dead,  saving, 
there  goes  another  load  of  damned  rebels.  I  have 
observed  the  British  soldiers  to  be  full  of  their  black- 
guard jokes,  and  vaunting  on  those  occasions,  but 
they  appeared  to  me  less  malignant  than  tories. 

The  provision  dealt  out  to  Uie  prisoners  was  by  no 
means  sufficient  for  the  support  of  life.     It  was  defi- 
cient in  quantity,  and  much  more  so  in  quality.     Tiie 
prisoners  often  presented   me  with  a  sample  of  their 
bread,  which  I  certify  was  damaged  to  that  degree, 
that  it  was  loathsome  and  unfit  to  be  eaten,  and  I  am 
bold  to  aver  it,  as  my  opinion,  that  it  had  been  con- 
demned,   and   was  of  the    very    worst   r^ort.     I   have 
seen  and  been  fed  upon  damaged  bread,  in  the  course 
of  my    captivity,   and    ob,s(un-e(l  the   qualitv  of  sue'. 
bread  as  has  been   condemned    bv  the  enemy,  amon; 
which  was  very   little  so  effectually  spoiled   as  what 
was  dealt  out  to  these  prisoners,     their  allowance  of 
meat  (as  they  told   me)  was  quite  ti-ifiing,  and  of  the 
basest  sort.     I  never  saw  any  of  it,  but  was  informed, 
that  bad  as  it  was,  it  was  swallowed  almost  as  quick 
as  they  got  hold  of  it.     I  saw  some  of  them  sucking 
bones   after  tiiey  were  speechless ;  otiiers,  who  could 
yet  speak,  and  had  the  use  of  their  reason,  urged   me 
in  the  strongest  and  most  pathetic  manner,  to  use  mv 
interest  in  their  behalf;  for  you  plainly  see,  said  they, 
that  we  are  devoted    to  death  and   destruction  ;  ainl 
after  I  had  examined  more  particularly  into  their  truly 
deplorable    condition,    and    had    become    more   fully 
apprized  o;' the  essential   facts,  I  was  persuaded  that 
It  was  a  premeditated    and  systematical  plan  of  thf> 
British  council,  to  destroy  the  youths  of  our  land,  with 
a   view  thereby   to  deter  the  country,    and    make   it 
submit  to  their  despotism  ;  but  that   I  could  not  do 
them  any   material  service,  and  that,  by  anv  public 
attempt  for  that  purpose,  I  iiiiglit  endanger  liivbcil  by 


NARRATIVE   OF  ALLEn's   CAPTIVITY.  255 

x;:^^r.t  Err'- --- 
^«3'-  ^v- -sine  K-^ 

,  "ULvvicnscancinifr  their  severities. 

bo  told  me  from  P.mi  F  ^'-''''H  *^"  ^'^""^^  '»^"'  ^s 
mere  skZ'nn    L      •] T^"^^"^^'  "^'^^^  ^^''^^  ^^^^^"ced  to  a 

«..*,  that  htl.tea  \,tM;:;\'-w,f^'' '°"« 

a  little  oft;  Zd  tod  him  wU  .  f''  P"''™''^^  ^'^"^ 
he  then  asked,  w.llh'e™irt,%  ?;:;  I'the'ti^ht'oV 

d;»r°^  "tronl  aml'i  ,on,  ae,  they  were  but  obscure  sol- 
virfna  r  f-'"'"'''^  JiHistthe  internal  prineinle  of 
Mitne  be,  which  supported  them  to  bra  Jdeatf  and 


I 


25(1 


KTHAN  ALLKN  AND  OKKKX-MOU\TAIN  HEROES. 


m 


i;  '     I  I 


m    it' 

ins    1  II 


I' 


•  111 


i'  '        i« 


if  m 


one  of  them  went  tliroii^?h  the  operation,  as  did  many 
hundred    others,.     1   readily  grant   that   instances  of 
pul)li^   virtue   are   no    excitement  to  tiie  sordid  and 
vicious,  nor,  on  tlie  other  hand,  will  all  the  barbarity 
of  Biitain  and  Ileshland  awaken  them  to  a  sense  of 
their  duty  to  the  public;  but  these  things  will   have 
their  proper  effect  on  the   generous  and  brave.     Tiie 
otlicers  on^  parole  were  most  of  them  zealous,  if  possi- 
ble, to  afford  the  miserable  soldiery  relief,  and  often 
consulted^  with  one  another  on  the  subject,  but  to  no 
effect,  being  destitute  of  the    means    of  subsistence, 
which  they  needed  ;  nor  could  the  officers  project  any 
measure,  which  they  thought  would  alter  their  fate, 
or  so  much  as  be  a  means  of  getting  them  out  of  those 
nlthy  places  to  the  pi-ivilege  of  fresh  air.     Some  ])ro- 
jected  that  all  the  officers  should  go  in   proci^ssion  to 
General  Howe,  and  plead  the  cause  of  the  perishing 
soldiers ;  but  this  proposal  was  negatived  for  the  fol- 
lowing reasons,  viz  :  because  that  general  Howe  must 
needs  be  we",  acquainted,  and  have  a  thorough  know- 
ledge of  the  state  and   condition  of  the  prisoners    in 
every  of  their  wretched   apartments,  and  that  much 
more  particular  and  exact  than  any  officer  on  parole 
could  be  supposed  to  have,  as  the  general  had  a  return 
ot  ^  the  circumstances    of  the   prisoners,   by  his   own 
otlicers,   every   morning,   of  the  number  which  were 
ahve,  as   also  the  number  which  died   every  twenty- 
four  hours ;  and  consequently  the  bill  of  mortality,  as 
collected  from  the  daily  returns,  lay  before  him  with 
all^  the  material   situations   and   circumstances  of  the 
prisoners  ;  and  provided  the  officers  should  go  in  pro- 
cession to  general  Howe,  according  to  the  projection 
It  would  give  him  the    greatest  affront,  and  that  he 
would  either  retort  upon  them,  that  it  wslq  no  part  of 
their  parole  to  instruct  him  in  his  conduct  to  prison 
ers  ;  that  they  were  mutining  against  his  authority, 
and  by  affronting  him,  had  forfeited   their  parole ;  or 
that,  more  probably,   instead  of  saying   one   word  to 
them,  would  order  them  all  into  as  wretched  confine- 
ment  as  the  soldiers  whom  they  sought   to  relieve; 
for,  at  that  time,  the  British,  from  the  general  to  the 


NAUUATIV,,    OK   ALLKN'S    CAimviTY.  257 

private  soutin'e],  wero  in  full   ,.     «  i 

80  mucJi  as  hesifil   h,,/  f    1  ^^^^n^^f'^^e,  nor  did  they 

country.      C,   .,'  ^"^  ^'''1^  ^  '^:^  «'»^>«I^1  conquer  the 

confounded  a^  b  ok^n^to'^f  "^  ''  '''  ^^«--  -- 
the  dread,  whic4,  at  tl...  f^  ^1'"'''  '"  ^^"««qu«nce  of 
offendinc/Oer  Howo  f  r  ^''^  ^^"  ^^'^'^  minds,  of 
ous  a  tymnt  wcHdTn^t  ho  ^r^  ''"?'^-^"^  ««  ^"^^er- 
tlic  officers,    on       e    ,1  ?  ^''"^'^  ^^  ^Jestrov  even 

they  were  equall v    in  f      P'""^""'^  ^^'  ^»    ^ffi'^nt,  as 

und^  as  Gen' Tlte  "pe;Lrr  T^^l^    ^>   ^^^^^^^^ 
tion  of  the  privatrsoEl    •{  understood    the  condi- 
cxactly  such  as  ho  •« nH  .     '  '^  ""^'-^   f'-^"^^^  ^^'^^^  ''t  was 
-^  hefnean    t^  dlt  oy    hLn' it"^  ^/^^J Revised,  and 
pose  for  them  to  trv  fo  '  ,  T"^^  ^^  ^^  "«  P"*- 

were  helpless  -d^i.^^lf  ^^   i;! t"^^' ^^-^^^ 
tlie  least  affront  •  inrl^or?   „      •  ^'^^^'  ^"  ^'i^ing 

in  the  streets  knew  firm'  ,       ,    ?  ""''^  ""'"'»'  ''"vb 

measure  ;  at  liast,  tl  ^  krTLt:7"  "*'  ''  '"  «"'"« 
to  death.     Some    r,n„\.   ,  ""'-^  ^e"'®  starved 

necessity,  tin  reir'^chilir™""  "T"''""""^   *»   "'eir 

all  persiils  „"  comL'n'l  'rsT:ndin"'T'  ^*T^'^'  ?"" 
were  devoted  to  tho  p..,!  .  i  ^  knew  that  they 
was  also  pi^poLfby  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^hs.     ft 

sentation  of  the  coifd  tTn  of  H  f,.^""^^»  ^^pre- 
officers  to  simi  it  and  fT.f  l  ^^^'^''^^'  ^"^  ^^^e 
such  terms  as  hon"  t  ^  '^^^"^^  ^^'  ^''«"ched  in 
the  Genera  wL  mnied^,'^  ^re  app  ,,,^,^j^^  ^ 
dailyreturnsto  l2;?H^T>^'?^*^«'''^^  ^*°  their 
prisoners  and  t Imt  thorof'  f  ""^  '""^^^^^^  «f  ^ho 
compassion,  ut-ecor^^^^^t^;^^^^^^^  '^  '^'"^'^^  ."^^^^^  with 
the  tacts  reativo  to    homT.i-   ^^"^'"""'^ate  to  him 

they  would  m:::  withi ^ed  '?f  1 'e^s'tl  th"^  ''''' 
posal  was  most  .Tenpfill^  ,.,  „.•  '""f^'  but  this  pro- 
tl.e  same  reason"S7infh?:H''  "''"'  «"<'*•>••  "'"eh 
conjectured  that  «!  T  -  ?tl'ercase;  for  it  was 
moved  acrains    s„    .1,  "ffl         "'    '"'I'Snation  would  be 


in 


IfV 


It  .. 

It'.     ! 


11 
ll 


\v^ 


258       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

who  made  the  daily  returns  ;  and  then^tore  self-preser 
vation  deterred  the  ofHcers  from  either  petitioning  or 
retnonstrating  to  Gen.  Howe,  either  verbally  or  in 
writing;  as  also  the  consideration  that  no  valuable 
purpose  to  the  distressed  would  be  obtained. 

I  made  several  rough  drafts  on  the  subject,  one  of 
which  I  exhibited  to  tiie  colonels  Magaw',  Miles  and 
Atlee,  and  they  said  that  the"  would  consider  the 
matter ;  soon  after  I  called  on  tnem,  and  some  of  tlie 
gentlemen  informed  me  that  they  had  written  to  the 
general  on  the  subject,  and  1  coiu'luded  that  the  gen- 
tlemen thought  it  best  that  tl.'ey  sliould  write  without 
me,  as  there  was  such  spirited  aversion  subsisting 
between  the  British  and   me. 

In  the  mean  time  a  colonel   Elussecker,  of  the  conti- 
nental army,  as  he  then  rej^orted,  was  taken  prisoner, 
and   brouglit    to    New- York,  who  gave  out   that   the 
country    was   almost   universally   submitting    to    the 
English  king's  authority,  and  that  there  would  >^e  little 
or  no  more  opposition  to  Great-Britain.     This  at  first 
gave  the  oiHcers  a  little  sliock.   l)ut  in  a  few  days  thev 
recovered    themselves;     for   this    colonel    Hussecker, 
being  a  (xerman,  was  feasting  with  general  De  IJeister, 
his    countryman,    and   from    his    conduct   they    were 
apprehensive  that  he  was  a  knave;  at  least  he  was 
esteemed  so  by  most  of  the  oiticers  ;  it  was   neverthe- 
less a  day  of  trouble.     The  enemy  blasphemed.     Our 
little   army  was   retreating    in  New-Jersey,  and  our 
young  men  murdered  by  hundi-eds  in  New- York.    The 
army  of  Britain  and   Ileshland   prevaiJed   for  a  'little 
season,  as  though  it  was  ordered   by  Heaven  to  shew, 
to  the  latest  posterity,  what  tlie  British  would    have 
done  if  they  could,  and    wiiat  the  general  calamity 
must  have   been,  in  consequence  of  their  conquering 
the  country,  and  to  excite  every  honest  man  to  stand 
forth    in  the  defence  of  liberty,  and  to  establish   the 
independency  of  the  United   States  of  America   for- 
ever.    But  this  scene  of  adverse  fortune  did  not  dis- 
courage   a   Washington.      The   illustrious    American 
hero  remained  immoveable.     In  liberty's  cause  he  took 
up  his  sword.     This   reflection  was  his  support  and 


NAKUATIVK    or    A,J,Kx's    CAPTIVITY.  2^,0 

consolntion    in    the  djiv   ..f  h;^   i       m-    ■ 

refreat«l    before  tl^enUy  t  ro  ™ '^wT  "'"'"•  ''<' 
Pennsvlvinl.i      ti    •     '  '  •^'  ,  ™  ^"  ^^-^ '^e^'^oy  into 

again,  and  take  ample  s'ltkZZ^  i  ■  ^^^'''^^''"'^ 
-No  sooner  iuid  he  cTrc mnv^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  ?''  ^''  I^"^'''^'^'-«- 
appeared  in   terWble  ^a;  t  ^''^   '=^"fe'''?J J^es, and 

f^^ii.  This  t.u^^tM::^:i^tiu:^^:^^^^^^ 

eeveranoo    inW  fi.r.  "uhiimc  uoirii  or  roj.. 

Mie  continental  troon^      T'       l^     T  """>«'•'»"«  than 
nmrched  from  iS 'o^  '"'^^^^'^^  and 

ton,  who  was  then  TlV?f      1  ^'''^  ^'"^'""'''"^  Washing- 

det;chme:A-:!;n",;:!i;;:;;;[^';;;;-^i^^^ 

support  of  that  phiee.  This  wh  a  trvi  ^H  '  J''  ^^'^ 
worthy  general,  though  in  possess  on  ffT'/^'  ''''' 
astonishinj?  victory   was  1  v  n^,  ,  ?^  ""  ^'''^^  ^^st 

the  collective  tl^^^tl^  i   r?  M  t^f  ^^^' 
^oon    suggested  a  stratagen.  to  "^ec    tl  t  J'^ 
torce,   to   him    was   -if-  ^)p,f  f        •  '^^  which,  by 

tI.eveVoroa„.",edul/   H  a;«'-ram;,S'"ff"      ") 
"1  the  ninlit  made   a   foni,)  >1    ^      ^- "* '"''^*' """^ 

the,,,,  aninext  „u,r4,^fe^l     ^wi  h  "A"' •''•''™'-^<'  ^^ 

at  Princet..,w,,.  and  kille-'d  ,™i  t„"ok  1^'  s    r  [,,:;:;K 

little  a,™.v  towaSrii  £;;  "aX'^'o^f.  I'l','™ 
power  Tl,ese  .-epeated  s„cces"es  one  on  tl  e  'LcuTf 
the  othe.',  cl,ag,-;„ed  the  e„emy  pi'odi.^iZ  nnH  ^  , 
an  amaz,r,s  o,,eratio„  in  the  scale  nf  An," '•  '"' ' 
■tics,  and  nndiubtedly  was  L  of  rt„  /'■""'"  P"'" 
which  their  fair  «t,it«re  ofYndepenXnc'v  r"T  "'' 
abncated,  for  the  country  a  no  X,  S  Z  ^f" 
been  ,„  ,„nch  dispirited  as  jnst  before  th'^ondn:,? 


W 


If'ii 


r\ 


m 


fi 


mi 
t>1    I 


^Bil 


in 


260       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTATN  HEROES. 

this  glorious  buccess,  which  in  part  dispelled  the 
gloomy  clouds  of  oppression  and  slavery,  which  lay 
ponding  over  America,  big  with  the  ruin  of  this  and 
tuture  generations,  and  enlightened  and  spirited  her 
sons  to  redouble  their  blows  on  a  merciless,  and 
haughty,  and  I  may  add  perhdious  enemy. 

larthermore,  this  success  had   a   mighty  effect  on 
general  Howe  and  his  council,  and  roused  them  to  a 
sense  ot  their  own  weakness,  and  convinced  them  that 
ttiey  were  neither  omniscient  nor  omnipotent.     Their 
obduracy  and  death-designing  malevolence,  in   some 
measure,  abated,  or  was  suspended.     The   prisoners, 
who  were  condemned   to  the  most  wretched  and   cru- 
elest  ot  deaths,  and  who  survived  to  this  period, thouo-h 
most  ot  them  died  before,  were  immediately  ordered 
to  be   sent  within  general  Wiwhington's  lines  for  an 
exchange,  and   in  consequence  of  it,  were  taken  out  of 
tlieirlilthy  and   poisonous  places  of  confinement,  and 
sent  from  New-\ork  to  their  friends  in  haste;  several 
of  them  fell  dead  in  the  streets  of  New- York,  as  thev 
attempted  to  walk  to  tlie  vessels  in  the  harbor,  for  their 
intended  embarkation.     What  numbers  lived  to  reach 
the  lines  1  cannot  ascertain,  but,  from  concurrent  rep- 
resentations which  I  have  since  received  from  numbers 
of  people  who  lived  in  and  adjacent  to  such  parts  of 
tfie  country,  where  they  were  received  from  the  enemy, 
1  apprehend  that  most  of  them  died  in  consequence  of 
the   vile   usage  of  the   enemy.     Some  who  were  eye 
witnesses  of  that  scene  of  mortality,  more  especially  m 
that   part   which   continued  after  the  exchange   took 
place,  are  of  opinion,  that  it  was  partly  in  consequence 
of  a  slow  poison ;  but  this  I  refer  to  the  doctors  who 
attended  them,  who  are  certainly  the  best  judo-es. 

Upon  the  best  calculation  1  have  been  able  1o  make 
from  personal  knowledge,  and  the  many  evidences  I 
have  collected  in  support  of  the  facts,  I  learn  that  of 
the  prisoners  taken  on  Long-Island,  Fort  Washington 
and  some  few  others,  at  different  times  and  places! 
about  two  thousand  perished  with  hunger,  cold  and 
sickness,  occasioned  by  the  filth  of  their  prisons,  at 
New- York,  and  a  numbor  more  on  tijeir  passage  to  the 


JLi 

li 

a 

N.V,iK*TIVB    01    AI,r.ra'8   OAPTIVITT.  2fi| 

tl«ir  friends,  hav  n/reouvl  m"  •'"''T'"?'  "'''"  '■«'«''"«' 
not    be  restored    hvH  """'■'''"'"' "'""nd.'^ould 

friends  ;  but  ike  t^ir  l.tr"'""""  °*'  Ph^^icia™  and 
to  the  relentle  3  and  sct«  r  fT?''*'  *■""  "  ™<^"«oe 
took  as  mncli  natl  »t  *"  '""'''arity  of  Britain.    I 

of,  to  info™  ^Z^„7  "'rT'""''^''"^'^  "dmit 
likewise  of  tbe  vm-vL  ■  '^i  "  """"''•»  of  fact,  but 
and  In-s  cm,„en.  "/he  .l?.r''„"f  T^f  S«-«-al  Howe 

a™  " V^'^ht;;'^-'^^  ---  of "the'l^erican 
who  were  oo  ZHmkI     ' '^>=°■=ti''<»'tal    officers, 

assemble,!,  but'^nw  in  a  ™b,^  "  ^  ""'"'^'"-  °''  "« 
bowls  andglasses  dmnt  '""''''^niannor,  and  with  full 
and  were  .^t  Tn  nmdfl  Tc^^  Washington's  health, 
friends  on  the  co;  Kn!  !  ^""p^s  and  our  worthy 
were  prisoners  "*"'*""""'  ""^  almost  forgot   that  wl 

rani  t'dlZortt^et  t?  •'•'''*'""'  «  ?""«''  "ffl-r  of 
not   n.enti„^P  in"?,  ?  "'J^S';,:™:^?  «''o«e  name  I  shall 

though  I  have  men  tiled  r/n?'  '"/^''tain  reasons, 
and  confidants,  en  ?or  me  t  ?1  f-T'/  "^  "'T  '"^"^s 
"Tliat  faithfulness  thmi^h    n         '^^'"S'' """^ 'old  me 

ertheless  recommended  ^  ,  "  "''""S  '=''™<''  ^-ad  nev- 
Howe,  ^.h^wa  "nttd  T  '?  «""'''''  ^'"^  ^'Uiam 
inient  o/-  new'evTetih  ,""''*'•"'',*  ';?'""'''  ^^a  reg- 
and  pror^crd  th  ?t  T  =1  <T' '"  ""^  ^""'«''  service ; 
o.her^iS't:'li  r'tr'^'S^  '"■■?.and  some 
P«rpo.«  in  a  tew  davf  nd  M,  T"-^  ""j'""''^  <■<"•  "'at 
«.  Germaine,  Ind  ■p;Zb  M  ^<  ""^"•'^'"'^^  '»  J^°'<^ 
previously  I  should  be  olotLd  ■  ^'"^ '  '""'  "'at 

ducfon,  and,  in  tead  of  .?,  '"^"'''."'  '"""^  ""  '"'ro- 
guineas  ;  after  thsslKnlf'^'K  'T'  >f  ?"'<'  '"  ^ard 
f"y„e.  a'nd  assist  in  tt  eiu:;;on"''ofTh"'  ^T^"'  ?"^- 
mtailibly  would   be  c„n;,,!l    ^        ,      ,  oountry,  which 

he  done,  I  should  havr^'^'f"'''  *''«"  "=*'  «''o«>ld 
the  Kewlllamp  hire  "^/"'■S'.'''?,'''  »*  land,  either  in 
make  no  «ld7a  l^e^c^n;  "'"^  C^-^necticut,  it  would 
-wn."  z  ther,tlS"%Z:^,^.t'Slr'^-'1 
had  recon.mended  myself  to  general  &owe    I  's^.^dd 


m 


H    i 


2^2        KTIIAN  ALLKN  AND  JKIJK.V-MOUNTAIN  IlEKOl-S. 

be  loth,  by  imfiiithfiilresH,  to  lose  the  general's  good 
opinion  ;  besides,  tiiat  I  viewed  the  offer  of  land  to  bo 
similar  to  tiiat  which  tlie  devil  offered  Jesus  Christ, 
'lo  give  him  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  if  he 
^yould  fall  down  and  w.;i-fir()  him  ;  when  at  the  same 
time,  tlie  damned  souj  i;aj  not  one  foot  of  land  upon 
earth.'  "  This  closed  the  coiiversation,  and  the  gentle- 
man turned  from  ine  with  an  air  of  dislike,  saying,  that 
1  was  a  bigot ;  upon  wliich  I  retired  to  my  lodgings.* 

•  An  anecdote  of  a  difii'ient  character  is  foM   of  Allen's  sojourn   in 
New  York.      Rivington,  Uie  "king's  printer,"  a  forcible  and  venomous 
writer,  had  incurred  Allen's  enmity  by  his  caustic  allusions  to  him,  and 
the  hero  of  Ticonderoga  swore  "  he  would  lick  Rivington  the  very  first 
opportunity  he  had  !"     How  the  printer  escaped  the  threatened  wistiga- 
tion  shall  be  narrated  in  his  own  words  :     I  was   sitting,  [says  Riving- 
ton,] after  a  good  dinner,  alone,  with  my  bottle  of  Madeira  before  me, 
when  1  heard  an  unusual  noise  in  the  street,  and  a  huzza  from  the  boys. 
I  was  in  the  second  story,  and,  stepping  to  the  window,  saw  a  tall  figure 
in  tarnished  regimentals,  with  a  la-ge  cocked  hat  and  an  enormous  long 
sword,  followed  by  a  crowd  of  boys,  who  occasionally  cheered  him  with 
huzzas,  of  which  he   seen)ed  insensible.     He  came  up  to  my  door  and 
stopped.     I  could  see  no  more.    My  heart  told   me  it  was  Ethan  Allen. 
I  shut  my  window  and  retired  behind  my  table  and   my  bottle.    I  was 
certain  the   hour  of  reckoning  had   come.     There   was  no   retreat     Mr. 
Staples,  my  clerk,  came  in  paler  than  ever,  and,  clasping  his  hands,  said, 
"  Master,  he  has  come  !  "     "I  know  it."     "  He  entered  the  store  and 
asked  '  if  James  Rivington   lived  tiiere  ?  '      I  answered,  '  Yes,  sir.*     '  Is 
he  at  home  V     'I  will  go  and  see,  sir,'  I   said  ;  and  now,  master,  what 
is  to  be  done  ?    Tiiere  he  is  in  the  store,  and  the  boys  peeping   at  him 
from  the  street."     I  liad  made  up  my  mind.     I  looked  at  the  Madeira  - 
possibly  took  a  glas.s.    "  Show  him  up,"  said  I ;  "and  if  such  Madeira 
can  not  mollify  him,  he  must  be  harder  than  adamant."     There  was  a 
fearful  moment  of  suspense.    I  heard  him  on  the  stairs,  his  long  sword 
clanking  at  every'  step.    In  he  stalked.    "  Is  your  name  James  Riving- 
ton ?  "     "  It  is,  sir,  and  no  man  could  be  more  happy  than  I  am   to  see 

Colonel  Ethan  Allen."     "  Sir,  I  have  come "    "  Not  another  word, 

my  dear  colonel,  until  you   have  taken  a  seat  and  a  glass  of  old  Ma-' 

deira."     "  But,  sir,  I  do  n't  think  it  proper "     "  Not  another  word. 

colonel.    Taste  this  wine.    I   have  had  it  in  glass  for  ton  vear«-.    Old 


MAKKATIVE   OF    Arrww'a    „. 

"'     ALLKN8   CAPTiyiTT.  263 

pa>-ole  continued.  Dur  ni  mv  ^  ^"."S-''*'"""!.  ^d  our 
occurrence  worth  obsmat  on  "'"•'«'"!'«">'  ti.ere,  no 
tl.e  means  of  living  as  wel'  isT  ■'"';  ^,  «'""'"*■<' 
great  measure  repaired  mv.  \'f' f'-''^.  wl.icl,  in  „ 
feen  greatly  injured  bv  t  ,Z  "°"!  !"""">.  wln'ch   i,ad 

Pectinj.  either  an  excSuJ  orln^^'"'*  '°'."P<''>"'.  ex- 
honorable  treatment  but'aL?f-™  '"S'^'dand 
^;'.'ons  soon  vanished.  T  ,e  neVs^f  7'™-'"'^  '"'?''«• 
Tjconderoga  by  <rener.>.l  7i,  I  °' ,"'"  ''onqncst  of 

'"«  arm;.  rnto'ti(i'  ,  '  "t.'t  Sr'.Cl  "'^''''T^•«  "^ 
a^am  feel  their  imoorf  .npj  1  •  ,  ''a"glity  Britons 
tiable  thirst  ibr  c™dty       ''  ""^  ""'  """'  '^«ir  insa 

offict^ontaSelirthf''"-^'"-''-'  ^"•^  -"-  of  the 
.«-as  to  thema  demi-god  "^„r«"f^  <>*'  it.  Burgoyne 
■n  bin,  the  tories  S  thei  "."  «  F  P'"'''  adoriUiin! 
the  Lord  their  God  ",1  ii      '',<"??dence,  "and  tbrgo 

Knyp,,anser,  "Tnd'  b^c'mryt   n7h:^  ''"'-"'>■"''  »<' 
■on,  and  their  foolish  hearts  wJ^j         ""?  """J^'na- 
'"g  to  be  great  politicians  and  17  !'''''''"-'»"f."  Profess- 
mercile6s''i„yaders/anSwS  thim"^  I"  foreign  „„d 
Woodshed  and  destructioiT of- f t         ""^'""^  "'e  "lin, 
tools,"  expecting  w  th  them  to  1T  '"'''?.^'^  '  "  ''^^ame 
confiscated  estate!  of  tfr  neiildf  '  '''7''^'"^  ■'"  ""= 
wl-o  fonght  for  the  whol7co"n  ?v  1'?/^'^  countrymen 
liberty,  thereof     " Therefbre    r/n'         ""', '"''S'™  and 
-^.-'elusion,  to  Miet'^litlaK'rn -gS  b'e" 

»«.dapp,.nvi„g|y.  "Sir,Ic„,„e_r°  ;,?"  ,  ''?*•  »»'l  «k„„k  M, 
^ke„  another  gia,,,  and  ,be„,  „y  dear  cl"  r"""*  """^"" '"»"' 
•a.™,  and  I  tav,.  ,„„e  ,„eere™«  ,„  dU  7° ',r,  '"'  '"'^  "'  '"' 

:;«I"  1 "''™-'"''  r^'^  -goj:  „„/;; :";  -  j'--'" 

nad  cause  to  U,  othemise.  """  '^^  ^^^  "erer 


264        ETHAW  A.LLEN  AND  OllKEN-MOUNTAIN  HhAiOhM. 


d 


i  i 


!<     ' 


I      I 

?'(  i 

I'' 


I 


Tlio  25th  day  of  Aupfust,  I  was  a})prulienflcd,  and 
niidir  pretext  of  artful,  mean  and  ])itifnl  |)retence8,  tliat 
1  liiul  infrint^ed  on  my  parole,  taken  from  a  tavern. 
where  there  were  more  than  a  dozen  ollicers  present, 
and,  in  the  very  place  where  those  officers  and  myself 
"U'tMo  directed  to  be  quartered,  put  under  a  stronpj 
guard  and  taken  to  New- York,  where  I  expected  to 
make  my  defence  before  the  commandinn^  officer;  but, 
Contrary  to  my  expectations,  and  without  the  least 
Kolid  pretence  of  justice  or  trial,  was  a^ain  encircled 
■with  astronjr  <ijuard  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  conducted 
t(»  the  provost-^aol  in  a  lonely  apartment,  next  above 
the  dungeon,  and  was  denied  all  manner  of  subsistence 
citlier  by  purchase  or  allowance.  The  second  day  I 
offered  a  guinea  for  a  meal  of  victuals,  but  was  denied 
it,  and  the  third  day  I  offered  eight  Sj)anish  milled 
dollars  for  a  like  favor,  but  was  denied,  and  all  1  could 

get  out  of  the  sergeant's  mouth,  was  that  by he 

would  obey  his  orders.  I  now  perceived  myself  to  be 
again  in  substantial  trouble.  In  this  condition  I  formed 
an  oblique  acquaintance  with  a  Capt.  Travis,  of  Vir- 
ginia, who  was  in  the  dungeon  below  me,  through  a 
little  hole  which  was  cut  witli  a  pen-kn^ tie,  through  the 
flctor  of  my  apartment  which  communicate  d  with  the 
dungeon  ;  it  was  a  small  crevice,  thr<  .gh  which  I 
could  discern  but  a  very  small  part  of  h  s  face  at  once, 
when  he  applied  it  to  the  hole  ;  but  fron'  the  discovery 
of  him  in  the  situation  which  we  were  ooth  then  in,  I 
could  not  have  known  him,  which  I  found  to  be  true 
by  an  after  acquaintance.  I  could  nevertheless  hold  a 
conversation  with  him,  and  soon  perceived  him  to  be  a 
gentleman  of  high  spirits,  who  nad  a  high  sense  of 
honor,  and  felt  as  big,  as  though  he  had  been  in  a  pal- 
ace, and  had  treasures  of  wrath  in  store  against  the 
British.  In  fine  I  was  charmed  with  the  spirit  of  the 
man  ;  he  had  been  near  or  quite  four  months  in  that 
dungeon,  with  murderers,  thieves,  and  every  species  of 
criminals,  and  all  for  the  sole  crime  of  unshaken  fidelity 
1o  his  country  ;  but  his  spirits  were  above  dejection, 
and  his  mind  unconquerable.  I  engaged  to  do  hira 
every  service  in  my  power,  and  in  a  few  weeks  after- 


Oh*. 

iflcd,  and 
Mices,  tliiit 
a  tavern, 
s  present, 
id  my  eel  f 
a  strong 
pected  to 
icer;  but, 
tlie  least 
encircled 
conducted 
ext  above 
ibsistence 
)nd  day  I 
as  denied 
sh  milled 
lU  1  could 

y be 

self  to  be 
1 1  t'onned 
Is,  of  Vir- 
lirougl)  a 
'ou^li  the 
with  the 
which  I 
e  at  once, 
discovery 
then  in,  I 
J  be  true 
388  hold  a 
m  to  be  a 
sense  of 
in  a  pal- 
;ain8t  the 
rit  of  the 
IS  in  that 
pedes  of 
(n  fidelity 
dejection, 
>  do  hira 
iks  after- 


KAi:i{ATivj;   OK  allkn'h  CAFriviTY.  2e;5 

wardH  with  the  united  petitions  of  the  ofKcers  in  the 
im>yoHt  procured  his  •liH.ni.sion  from  the  dark  ma  Lion 
ot  hends  to  the  apartment,  of  !-    Metitioners. 

And  It  catne  to  pass  on  Mu;  ;d  day   at  the  o-oino. 

;  own  of  the  sun,  thit  1  .•,«  pr..entedTid    a  pie^H? 

oded  pork,  and  some  bis,  ,!',  v  hich  the  ser,.epU  ^u'e 

e  to  understand,  was  n.y  ai  ■  v  nee,  and  1  £d  sweetly 

d  inaT^'/'''  ^'"^'''^^^   -uy  appetite  by  de^-ees^ 

^mductecTo  ;t^''  ""''l  'r  '■  '"''"  '^'^'  «PH'-tment,  and 
c  nducted  to  tlie  next  lot.  ur  story,  where  there  were 

ha7  b  r "tV""'"?^^''  ^"'  Bome'rnilitia  olKcer«,Tw  o 
iiacl  been  taken,  5,nd  imprisoned  there,  besides  some 
private  gentlemen,  who  had  been  dra^^Jed  lh>m  tl  e  r 
own  homes  to  that  filthy  place  by  tor^l  SevTra  ot' 
c  ery  denomn.at  on  mentioned,  died  there,  some  bell 
and  others  after  1  was  put  there.  ' 

onlv^wor^?  ""*'!•''  ir^^^^^^i"S«  relative  to  the  provost 
on  y   were  1  particular,  would  swell  a  vol.mie  lar..er 
t     n  this  whole  narrative.    1  shall  therefore  onlv  notice 
8uch  o   the  occurrences  which  are  mostly  extrao^dina  v' 
Capt.  Vandyke  bore,  with  an  uncoirnnon  fortitude 
lear  twenty  months'  confinement  in  this  place'a       in 
the  niean  fme  was  very  serviceable  to  oti/ers  who  we  e 
confined  with  him.     The  allegation  a^^ainst  him  as  th^ 
cause  of  Ins  confinement,  was%ery  ex'iraordinary         « 
Mas  accused  of  settmg  fire  to  the  city  of  New-7ork  at 
the  time  the  west  partof  it  was  consumed,  whenTmts 
H  known  fact,  that  he  had  been  in  the  provost  a  w^ek 
before   he  fire  broke  out ;  and  in  like  m/inner,  fHvolcma 
were  the  ostensible  accusations  against  mos   of  those 
who  were  there  confined  ;  the  case  of  two  milit  a  oS 
excepted,  who  were  taken  in  their  attempting  to rcape 
from    heir  parole  ;  and  probably  there  may  be  some 

mV  Will ""  t'^i   "^"^''^  -i"^^'^'  «"^*^^  ^  co^finenr t! 
Mr.  William  Miller,  a  committee  man,  from  West 

Chester  county  and  state  of  New-York,  was  taken  from 
lii8  bed  in  the  dead  of  the  night  by  his  torv  neio-hboiT 
and  was  starved  for  three  days  and  nights  in  an  apar  ' 
nientof  the  same  gaol;  add'to  this  tl^  denial  o^C 
and  that  in  a  co  d  season  of  the  year,  in  which  time  he 
wp-Ued  day  and  n.ght,  to  defend  himself  against  the 


266        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES 


)       i 


m      I 


! 

^^Sm 

1; 

HH'' 

^^^^^B  J 

i' 

H^^K  i 

^•1' 

^H 

1 

lili'i 


III  If  I 


frost,  and  when  he  complained  of  such  a  reprehensible 
conduct,  the  word  rebel  or  committee  man  was  deemed 
by  the  enemy  a  sufficient  atonement  fur  any  inliumanity 
that  they  could  invent  or  inflict.  He  Wfs  a  man  of 
good  natural  understanding,  a  close  and  sincere  friend 
to  the  liberties  of  America,  and"  endured  fourteen 
months'  cruel  imprisonment  with  that  magnanimity  of 
soul,  A'hich  rellects  honor  on  himself  and  country. 

Major  Levi  Wells,  and  Capt.  Ozias  Bissel  were  ap- 
prehended and  taken  under  guard  from  their  parole 
on  Long-Island,  to  the  provost,  on  as  fallacious  pretences 
as  the  former,  and  were  there  continued  till  their  ex- 
change took  place  which  was  near  five  months.  Their 
fidelity  and  zealous  attachment  to  their  country's  cause, 
which  was  more  than  commonly  conspicuous  was 
undoubtedly  the  real  cause  of  their  confinement. 

Major  Brinton  Payne,  Capt.  Flahaven,  and  Capt. 
Kandolph,  who  had  at  different  times  distinguished 
themselves  by  their  bravery,  especially  at  the  several 
actions,  in  which  they  were  taken,  were  all  the  provo- 
cation they  gave,  for  which  they  suffered  about  a  year's 
confinement,,  each  in  the  same  filthy  gaol. 

A  few  weeks  after  my  confinement,  on  the  like  fal- 
lacious and  wicked  pretences,  was  brought  to  the  same 
place,  from  his  parole  on  JiOng-Island,  Major  Otho 
iJolland  Williams  now  a  full  Col.  in  tlie  continental 
ai-my.  In  his  characfer  are  united  the  gentleman,  offi- 
cer, soldier,  and  friend  ;  he  walked  through  the  pi-ison 
with  an  air  of  great  disdain;  said  he,  '••Is  this  t.'io 
treatment  which  gentlemen  of  the  continental  armv 
are  to  expect  from  the  rascally  British,  when  in  their 
power?  Heavens  forbid  it!"  He  was  continued  there 
about  five  months,  and  then  exchanged  for  a  British 
Major. 

John  Fell,  E  ,,  now  a  member  of  Congress  for  tho 
state  of  Few- Jei  <ey,  was  taken  from  h''5  own  house  bv 
a  gang  of  infamous  tories,  and  by  order  of  a  British 
(general,  was  sent  to  the  provost,  where  he  was  con- 
tinued near  one  year.  The  stench  of  the  gaol,  which 
was  very  loathsome  and  unhealthy,  occasioned  a 
ht»ar8enes8  of  the  lungs,  which  proved  fatal  to  manr 


hensible 
deemed 
umanity 
man  of 
•0  friend 
fourteen 
imity  of 
try. 

vere  ap- 
r  parole 
retences 
;heir  ex- 
.  Their 
's  cause, 
)U6  was 
It. 

d  Capt. 
iffuished 
several 
e  provo- 
a  year's 

like  fal- 
be  same 
>r  Otho 
tinentiil 
lan,  otli- 
s  pi'ison 
;his  t.'ie 
1  arm  v 
m  tlieir 
;d  thery 
British 

for  tho 
ouse  by 
British 
as  con- 
,  wh.ich 
oned  a 
)  nianr 


NAKItATlVE  OF  ALLION's  CAPTIVITY. 


who 


267 


th( 


were 
near  to  the  poinrjrd;;tir/^LT"'-''/''?  gentleman 
l>y  his  friends  who  we;e  about  M^n'^'^Tl  -^^"T  ^^'^^ 
c-'uded   that  he  musTdie  ^^^'"' ^"^  I'^nself  con- 

f'ouLdit  that  so  wntfi.,  %' •    T"^^   "^^  ^"^"re  the 

scanchUous  manner  ^lh";^'^  ^  ",^^""'  f^^«^'  ^"d 
siiould  be  bereaved  o^-  .  Ji^s  lamiJy  and  friends 
ashisfu  thercare  n  If  W^'"''^^;;^  desirable  a  blessing, 

to  them.  ttL'i'^t  ;rr:^Tlel' foG^^      T'/^^^' 
wlio  cornmandi.(l  in  t?^„,„       ?  ?  ■    ^*^"'«<*  I^"'»rtsou, 

most  sen    hlotel  ,?,.^  ri    "''  '^!'"S  ?"""''«'*  "'"'  "'e 
pen  to  pa    r/wn    3  .nl      "''"''f,^''''^''  '""'"ted  '»y 

Oene?al,  and  wodnrZl  V        ?  "Muracy  of  a  British 

ionorabi;  Jol,  FeT  Es,r  o,^t  "^'f' °  """^  ""^  ""^ 
lodKings  in  town  •  i„ '..7,  ''  "'  ".  S""''  '»  P"fate 

recovered  1,  slealt,  'r^^^"""'^''  °f  "Wei,  l,e  slowly 
curnstance  whiehin  erve,  'T  "  '"  "^"-""dinary  a  cir- 
it  is  worth  Ci^in"       '"""  '^™'^«™">g  'his  letter,  that 

P-bation,  and  iirfoS  „  ^o'lZ'T'  'Z  ''"  *?" 
positive  and  explicit  terras  hi  reason  w-.  "Tl'  ,T' 
enemy  knew  bv  ovr^rxr  ^       ."^^  ^t^'ison  was,  "Ihat  the 

of  "11  the  pri^ol^n^  „'^°™'"«f.  "r''''  ";"  »°»dition 
gradnally  conTnt  t'oTv  '  ,Pf' "-'"'"•  «^  i  have  been 
and  the/ve"«*l,i  l-n?"  '"f  f,<'"''.«''"erable  time, 
it  should  be  ic*omnlkl,«l  '»f' ;  ^'^r^  determined 
others ;  tha     to  ,bT  »  f.     '  ,7  '""■  '*«"'«d  «""'y 

enemy  occasion  to  ,n-,f  T''  "'™'''.  ^''™  ""•  "erciless 
and  tierefori  w^l     Tf  r'*'''"'"  '"  "^ '"«'  '"""lents, 

the  cause  of  liberty         '''''^''     ''"■^'''  ^"^'^  raaintained 

o^- 1!;:  ^;;:^I;  'H^^^^t  '^  ^^^"'^^^^  ^^"  iH,,>rovement 
piovo.t  auiing  the  present  revolution  till  of  late, 


il  i  in 


I  ! 


S08 


ETHAN  Al.LKN  AND  GKKKN-MOUNTAIN  UKKOES. 


V.  i 


that  a  very  short  definition  will  be  sufficient  for  the 
dullest  apprehensions.  It  may  be  with  propriety  called 
the  British  inquisition,  and  calculated  to  support  their 
oppressive  measures  and  designs,  by  suppressing  tho 
spirit  of  liberty  ;  as  also  a  place  to  confine  the  crim- 
inals, and  most  infamous  wretches  of  their  own  army, 
where  many  gentkMnen  of  the  American  army,  and 
citizens  thereof,  were  promiscuously  confined,  with 
every  species  of  criminals ;  but  they  divided  into  dif 
fereiit  apartments,  and  kept  at  as  great  a  remove  as 
circumstances  permitted  ;  but  it  was  nevertheless  at 
the  option  of  a  villainous  sergeant,  who  had  the  charge 
of  the  provost,  to  take  any  gentleman  from  their  »"oom, 
and  put  tiiem  into  the  dungeon,  which  was  often  the 
case.  At  two  different  times  I  was  taken  down  staiis 
for  that  purpose,  by  a  file  of  soldiers  with  fixed  bay- 
onets, and  the  sergeant  brandishing  his  sword  at  the 
same  time,  and  having  been  brought  to  the  door  of  the 
dungeon,  I  there  flattered  the  vanity  of  the  sergeant, 
whose  name  was  Keef,  by  which  means  I  procured  the 
surprizing  favor  to  return  to  my  companions  ;  but  some 
of  the  high  mettled  young  gentlemen  could  not  bear 
his  insolence,  and  determined  to  keep  at  a  distance, 
and  neither  please  nor  displease  the  villain,  but  none 
could  keep  clear  of  his  abuse ;  however,  mild  measures 
were  the  best ;  he  did  not  hesitate  to  call  us  damned 
rebels,  and  use  us  with  the  coarsest  language.  The 
Capts.  Flaliaven,  Randolph  and  Mercer,  were  the  ob- 
jects of  his  most  flagrant  and  repeated  abuses,  who 
were  many  times  taken  to  the  dungeon,  and  there 
continued  at  his  pleasure.  Capt.  Fhihaven  took  cold 
in  the  dungeon,  and  was  in  a  declining  .^tate  of  health, 
but  an  exchange  delivered  him,  and  in  all  probability 
saved  his  life.  It  was  very  mortifying  to  bear  with  the 
insolence  of  such  a  vicious  and  ill-bred,  imperious  ras- 
cal. Remonstrances  were  preferred  to  the  commander 
of  the  town,  but  no  relief  could  be  obtained,  for  his 
superiors  were  undoubtedly  well  pleased  with  his 
abusive  conduct  to  the  gentlemen,  under  the  severities 
of  his  pover;  and  remonstrating  against  his  infernal 
conduct,  only  served  to  confirm  him  in  authoritv  ;  and 


NAiiKATlVK    OF   ALLKK's   CAPTIVITY.  ti^\) 

Meet  lf,fr"i^  °f  T  Tf^  ^"^y  remonstrances  on  the 
subject,  but  only  stroked  hini,  for  1  knew  that  Le  was 

but  a  cats  paw  in  the  hands  of  the  British  officers,  uiid 

that,  If  he  should  use  us  well,  he  would  immediately 

be  put  out  ot  that  trust,  and  a  worse  man  a]),)ointea   o 

succeed  him  ;  but  there  was  no  need  of  rm  S  a,  y 

6  lall,  and  Keef,  his  deputy,  were  as  m-eat  rascals  -is 
their  army  could  boast^ixcept  one'jo^hua  Lo   nt 
an  intamous  toiy,  who  was  commissary  of  prisoner^ 
nor  can  any  of  these  be  supposed  to  be  e^uall^  crimimd' 
Tr^    -KA  ^^^^il^^^n^  Howe  and  his  associates,  who 
pre  cribed   and   directed    the  murders   and    cruelties, 

mnni  T%^^^'  ^ -'"^^  P^petrated.  This  Loring  is  a 
monster!-Thei^  i8  not  his  like  in  human  shape^  He 
exhibits  a  smiling  countenance,  seems  to  weai-  a  phiz 
o  humanity,  but  has  been  instrumentally  capable  of  the 
most  consumate  acts  of  wickedness,  which  were  fiivst 
projected  by  an  abandoned  British  council  clothed  with 

oJ/uA^^^  ""^ ""  ^^^'''^'  murdering  premeditatedly,  in 
cold  blood,  near  or  quite  two  thousand  helpless  i.ris^ 
oners  and    that   in   the   most   clandestine,  mean  and 

t!Z]^  ''''''"fi''  ^A  ^^.^'-York.  He  is  the  most  mean 
spirited,  cowardly  deceitful,  and  destructive  animal  in 

wr^htlur-'T  ^''•'T'  ^\^  ^"^^^"^  of  infernal  devils, 
with  all  their  tremendous  horrors,  are  impatiently  ready 
to  receive  Howe  and  him,  with  all  their  detestable 
accomplices,  into  the  most  exquisite  agonies  of  tlio 
hottest  region  of  hell  fire.  i  6  ui 

The  6th  day  of  July,  1777,  Gen.  Ft.  Clair,  and  the 
army  under  his  command,  evacuated  T.conderoga,  and 
retreated  with  the  main  body  through  Hubbarton  into 
Castleton,  which  was  Lut  six  miles  distant,  when  L's 
rear  guard  commande  1  hy  ijol.  Seth  Warner,  was  at- 
tacked at  ilubc  arton  by  ,  i,..dy  of  the  enemy  of  about 
two  thousand,  cor;^manded  by  General  Fraser.  War- 
ner s  commanr^   cmsisted  of  his  own  and    other  two 


ss's  and  Hale's,  and  some  scatt 


regiments,  viz.  F 

ing  and  en^l^eblc  i  soldie-s.    His  whole  number,  accord 
mg  to  intormation.  wv.  near  or  quite  one  thousanci 
part  ot  which  were  Green  Mountain  ?,ovs,  about  so 


1 

p 

1 

H 

.1 1 

I 

^-  ^'' 

\-;W«.          i 

1 

■  i  ■  * 

11 

1 

K^l' 


:^l||:i 


270        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

hundred  of  the  whole  he  brought  into  action.  The 
enemy  advanced  hoklly,  and  the  two  bodies  formed 
within  aktiit  sixty  yard8  of  each  other.  Cuh  Warner 
having  formed  his  own  re<^iment,  and  that  of  CVl. 
Francis's  did  not  wait  for  the  enemy,  but  gave  tl-em  a 
heavy  fire  from  his  whole  line,  and  they  returnea  it 
with  great  bravery.  It  was  by  this  time,  dangerous 
for  those  of  both  parties,  wiio  were  not  prepared  for 
tlie  world  to  come  ;  but  Colonel  Hale  being  apprised 
of  the  danger,  never  brought  his  regiment  to  the  charge, 
but  left  Warner  and  Francis  to  stand  the  blowing  of  it, 
and  lied,  but  luckily  fell  in  with  an  inconsiderable 
nural)er  of  the  enemy,  and  to  his  eternal  shame,  sur- 
rendered himself  a  prisoner. 

The  conflict  was  very  bloody.  Col.  Francis  fell  in 
the  same,  but  Col.  Warner,  and  the  officers  under  his 
command,  as  also  the  soldiery,  behaved  with  great 
resolution.  The  enemy  broke,  and  gave  way  on  the 
right  and  left,  but  formed  again,  and  renewed  the  at- 
tack ;  in  the  mean  time  the  British  granadiers,  in  the 
center  of  the  enemy's  line  maintained  the  ground,  and 
finally  carried  it  with  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  and 
AVuiner  retreated  with  reluctance.  Our  loss  was  about 
thiity  men  killed,  ard  that  of  the  enemy  amounting  to 
three  hundred  killed,  including  a  Major  Grant.  The 
enemy's  loss  I  learnt  from  the  confession  of  their  own 
officers,  when  a  prisoner  with  them.  I  heard  them 
likt'wise  complain,  that  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  took 
sight.  The  next  movement  of  the  enemy,  of  any  ma- 
terial consequence,  was  their  investing  Bennington, 
with  a  design  to  demolish  it,  and  subject  its  Mountain- 
eers, to  which  they  had  a  great  aversion,  with  one 
hundred  and  fifty  chosen  men,  including  tories,  with 
the  highest  expectation  of  success,  and  having  chosen 
an  eminence  of  strong  ground,  fortified  it  with  slight 
breast  works,  and  two  pieces  of  cannijn  ;  but  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  young  state  of  Vermont,  being  previ- 
ously jealous  of  such  an  attempt  of  tlie  enemy,  and  in 
due  time  had  p"  ured  a  number  of  brave  militia  from 
the  government  a  the  state  of  Xew-llam]Ksh'-e,  who, 
together  with  the  militia  of  the  north  part  of  Berkshire 


NAliKATIVE    OF    ALLION's    CAPTIVITT.  271 

coiu,tj,  and  State  of  Massachusetts,  and  th.  Green 
Mo untam  Boy,,  constituted  a  body  of  d.speradoS 
"iHler  the  connnand  of  the  intrepid  general  S  a  k  who 
"number  were  about  equal  to  the"  enen.y.  Colonel 
1J<"  Tick,  who  cotninanded  the  Green  Mountain  Ranlrs 
and  who  was  second  in  command,  bei.)g  th  m.u  t  a'' 
qnainted  with  the  ground  where  'the  ^.emy^l^ 
iied  proposed  to  attack  them  in  their  works  on  all 
parts,  at  the  same  dme.     This  plan •  being  adored  by 

l4?eot  undf  '}'l'rf^  ot^var,  the^little'mditi^ 
biigade  ot  undisciplined  heroes,  with  their  Ion-  brown 
hrelocks,  the  best  security  of  a  free  peoi.le,  wS 
tM  her  cannon  or  bayonets,  was,  on   the  1(]  I    day  ot' 

in  fl"  fac^  :?  H  '''  '"'"!^  V  ''''''  ^-^^  commanae  s, 
n  the  tace  ol   the  enemy's  dreadful  fire,  and  to  the 

astonishment  of  the  world,  and  burlesque  If  dicnliie 
earned  every  part  of  their  lines  in  lesi  than  one  u-r- 
er  of  an  hour  after  the  attack  became  general  \ook 
^l^;^^^-,^^^-\-n<l  captivated  moPe  tS  ^^^ 
th  Ids  ot  their  number,  which  immortalized  general 
fetark,  and  made  Bennington  famous  to  posterity. 

Among  the  enemy's  slain  was  found  colonelBaum 

their  commander,  a  colonel   Pfester,  who  hc^dedTn 

mtamous  gang  of  tories,  and  a  large  part  of  his  com 

n.and;  and  among  the  prisoners  wSs  major  MeiW 

heir^  second  in  command,  a  number  of  BritLi  aTd 

uXd  fT   7^^--'.^^--'  ->^^  -ore  ^  Ze 
liundied   ot    the   atorementioned    Pfester's  command 
liie  prisoners  being  collected  together,  were  sent  to   he 
ineeting-house  in  the  town,  by"  a  sti'ong  g^uxl    an  1 

t  a  cattered  rom  him  to  rest  and  refresh  the  nselve  • 
in^  this  situation  he  was  on  a  sudden  attacked  bv  a 
reinforcement  of  one  thousand  and  one  hundr^l  of  he 
e lemy,  commanded  by  a  governor  Skene,  witl'  two 
held  pieces.  They  advanced  in  regular  order  and  kenf 
up  an  incessant  fire,  ee:  oe^dly  fi4  their  fi'idpi^!' 
and  the  remaining  milJr^a  retreating  slowly  before 
them,  disputed  the  ground  inch  by  inch.  TlLiemy 
were  heard  t:o  halloo  to  them,  saying,  stop  YanS 
In  th«  meantime,  Col.  Warner,  with  alSut  oLlm mired 

J  2'^ 


' 


aUUll 


'mk':^i 


272       KTIIAN  AIJ.EN  AND  OUEKN-MOITNTAIN  HEROKS. 


Ml, 


:ilt 


rli 


!  Si  1 


and  thirty  men  of  liis  regimont,  who  were  not  in 
the  first  action,  urrived  and  uttjickod  the  enemy  with 
e^reat  fury,  hoiiig  detennined  to  liuve  am])le  reveno;o 
on  account  of  the  <|uurrcl  at  lIuhl)ar(lton,  which 
brouijjht  thoui  to  a  stand,  and  soon  after  iijuneral  IStai'k 
and  colonel  irerrick,  brouijjht  on  more  of  the  scattered 
militia,  and  the  action  became  general ;  in  a  few  min- 
utes the  enemy  were  forced  from  their  cannon,  gave 
way  on  all  parts  and  fled,  and  the  shouts  of  victory 
were  a  second  time  proclaimed  in  favor  of  the  militia. 
The  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  privsoners,  in  these  two 
actions,  amounted  to  more  than  one  thousand  and  two 
hundred  men,  and  our  loss  did  not  exceed  fifty  men. 
This  was  a  hitter  stroke  to  the  enemy,  but  their  pride 
would  not  permit  them  to  hesitate  but  that  they  could 
vanquish  the' country,  and  as  a  specimen  of  their  arro- 
gancy,  I  shall  insert  general  Burgoyne's  proclamation  : 

"  By  John  Burgoyne,  Esq.,  Lieutenant-Qeneral  of  his  Majesty's 
armies  in  Anienca,  Colonel  of  the  Queen's  regiment  of  light 
dragoons,  Cioveriior  of  Fort  VVilliutu  in  North-Jiritain,  one  of 
the  Kepresentativ*  of  the  Commons  of  (rreat  Britain,  in  Par- 
liament, and  commanding  an  army  and  tleet  employed  on  aa 
expedition  from  Canada,  &c.  etc.  &c. 

"  The  forces  entrusted  to  mv  command  are  desicrned  to  act  in 
concert  and  upon  a  common  principle,  with  the  numerous  armies 
and  fleets  wliioli  already  display  in  every  ouarter  of  America, 
the  power,  the  justice,  and,  when  properly  sought,  the  mercy  of 
the  King. 

"The  cause,  in  which  the  Britisli  arms  are  thus  exerted, 
applies  to  the  most  affecting  interests  of  the  human  heart;  and 
the  militaiy  servants  of  the  crown,  at  first  called  forth  for  the 
sole  purj)ose  of  restoring  the  rights  of  the  constitution,  now 
combine  with  love  of  their  country,  and  duty  to  their  sovereign, 
the  other  extensive  excitements  which  spring  from  a  due  sense 
of  the  general  privileges  of  mankind.  To  the  eyes  and  ears  of 
the  temj)erate  part  of  the  public,  and  to  the  breasts  of  suffering 
thousands  in  the  provinces,  be  the  melancholy  appeal,  whether 
the  present  unnatural  rebellion  has  not  been  made  a  foundation 
for  the  complctest  system  of  tyranny  that  ever  God,  in  his  di» 
pleasure,  suflered  for  a  time  to  be  exercised  over  a  froward  and 
stubborn  generation. 

"  Arbitrary  imprisonment,  confiscation  of  property,  ]iersecution 


s 


NAK14AriVE   OF   ALLEN's   CAp-JIVIl  V, 


273 


and   torture,  unpiweilfMitcd   in  tl 


fH      I  ■       ,  ^^  inquisitions  of  the  Romish 

Church  are  a.nonj,.  the  ,.al,,al.lc  .uornuties  that  vorify  the  Z  n 
ative      These  are  inHicted   by  aKse.uhhes  a.ul  co.nn.H  ^J         ! 
da.-e  to,,r<,fosH  th«n.seives  friends  to  liberty,  upoXt^; 
suiyects,  wuhout  d.stinetion  of  a,.,  or  hc.  fir  the  TZt 
often   for  the  sole  susim.on,  of  havinjr  adhered  in   priuci,,!     o 
the  govern.nent  under  whieh   they  we'e  horn,  and  to  wh        I ' 
every  t,o,  chv.ne  and   human,  they  owe  alh-f^i/tnce.     To  con  uui^ 

a"td  rthr;  "f  ''t'^''^^  ^'^  ''^'''^^'^■-  «^  -%'-  - 

fhen.i  r    ^"''"'^"^"   l»oHtitution  of  common  r.ason- 

the  CO  sciences  of  men   are  set  at  nought;  and  multitudes  •  e 

an  usurpation  they  al)hor.  '' 

ihl  tu'''''^'"^  kv  these  consileratioiis,  at  the  head  of  troops  in 
he  full  powei.  of  health,  discipline  and  valor  ;  determined  o 
tiike  where  neces.sary,  and  anxious  to  spare  where  poasiblo   [ 

by   these  presents  invite  and   exhort  all  persons,  in  all  plac'es 

of  God  1  will  extend  It  far  to  maintain  such  a  conduct  as  may 
J^tify  me  in  protectmg  their  lands,  habitations  and   familio^ 
Ihe  intention  of  thisaddre.ss  is  to  hold  forth  security,  not  d<,.,v- 
da  ,on  to  the  country.     To  those  whom  spirit  and  p  inciple  my 
induce  to  partake  of  the  glorious  task  of  Redeeming  their  coun^ 
trymen  from  dungeons,  and  re-establishing  the  blessings  of  le^al 
government  I  offer  encouragement  and  <.uployment;  and  uit.n 
the  fii-st  intelligence  of  their  associations,  I  will  find  mea     t 
a-ssist  their  undertakings.     The  domestic,  the  industrious,  tl  e 
.nfii-m  and  even  the  tim.d  inhabitanis  I  am  desirous  to  piitec-f 
provided  they  remain  quietly  at  their  houses;  that  they  do  not' 
sufTer  their  cattle  to  be  removed,  nor  their  corn  or  foiJe  to  be 
secreted  or  destroyed ;  that  they  do  not  break  up  their  bridovs 
or  roads:  nor  by  any  (.tlier  act,  directly  ,),■  indirectly,  endeavour 
to  obstruc   the  operat.n.s of  the  king's  troops,  or  supply  or  ass 
those  of    he  enemy      Every  species  of  ,,rovision  brought  Lo  my 
camp,  will  be  i)aul  for  at  an  equitable  rate,  and  in  solid  coin 
.nd  ^"^'^'^^'^^^i^^^.f  «J';i-^tifity,  my  royal  master's  clemancy, 
and  the  honor  of  soldiership,  I  have  dwelt  upon  this  invitation 
and  wished  for  more  persuasive  terms  to  give  it  impression.  And 
let  not  people  be  led  to  disregard  it  b)  considering  their  distance 
from  the  iininediate  situation  of  my  camp.     I  have  but  to  --.ive 
stretch  to  the  Indian  forces  under  my  direction,  and  theyamour.t 
to  thousands,  to  overtake  the  hardened  enemies  of  Great  Brit'.in 
and  America:  I  consider  them  the  same  wherever  they  may 


'I        in 


it,  r 


!■■'! 


lis   ■' 


r^  i 


274        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GEEEN-MODNTAIN  HEROES. 

"If,  notwithstiindinfj  these  endeavours,  and  sincere  inclinationa 
t'>  effect  tlieni,  the  plirensy  of  hostility  -siioMld  remain,  I  trust  I 
sI'.mH  stand  ac([uitted  in  the  eyes  of  God  and.  man,  in  dcTiouncincr 
and  executing  the  vengeance  of  the  state  against  the  wilful  out- 
casts. The  messengers  of  justice  and  of  wrath  await  them  in 
the  field;  and  devastation,  famine,  and  every  concomitant  horror 
tliat  a  reluctant  but  indispensible  prosecution  of  military  duty 
must  occasion,  will  bear  the  way  to  their  return. 

J.  BURGOYNE. 

"  By  order  of  his  Excellency  the  Lieut.  General, 

Robert  Kingston,  Sec. 

"  Camp  near  Ticonderoga,  4th  July,  1777." 

Gen.  Burgoyne  was  still  the  toast,  and  the  severities 
towards  the  prisoners  were  in  great  measure  increased 
or  diminished,  in  proportion  to  the  expectation  of  con« 
quest.     His  very  ostentations  Proclamation  was  in  the 
hand  and  month  of  most  of  the   soldiery,  especially 
the  tories,  and  from  it,  their  faith  was  raised  to  assnr- 
rance.     I  wish  mv  countrymen  in  general  could  have 
an  idea  of  the  assuming  tyranny,  and  haughty,  malev- 
olent, and  insolent  behavior  of  the  enemy  at  that  time ; 
and   from   thence   discern   the   intolerable   calamities 
which  this  country  have  extricated  themselves    from 
by  their  public  spiritedness  and  bravery.     The  down- 
fall of  Gen.  Burgoyne,  and  surrender  of  his  whole 
army,  dashed  the  aspiring  hopes  and  expectations  of 
the  enemy,  and  brought  low  the  imperious  spirit  of  an 
opiilent,  puissant  and  haughty  nation,  and  made  the 
tories  bite  the  ground  with  anguish,  exalting  the  valor 
of  the  free-born  sons  of  America,  and  raised  their  fame 
and  that  of  their  brave    commanders  to  the  clouds 
and  immortalized  Gen.  Gates  with  laurels  of  eternal 
duration.*    'No  sooner  had  the  knowledge  of  this  inter- 

*  The  defeat  of  Rm-goyiie  gave  Ethan  Allen  a  welcome  opportunity  to 
return  the  ridicule  with  which  the  British  officers  had  been  accustomeU 
to  speak  of  the  continental  troops,  and  he  was  not  the  man  to  shut  his 
teeth  against  the  many  biting  sarcasms  which  pressed  to  his  mouth  for 
utterance.  Nor  was  he  the  man  to  speak  depreciatingly  of  his  own 
merits :  and  on  one  occ  sion,  while  boasting  of  the  success  of  the  revo- 
lutionary array,  he  spoke  of  himsolf  and  his  brothers,  and  said  there  wa» 


m 


NAKKATIVK   OP   AILEk's   OAPlWtlT.  275 

in  ■«oo<i,os7    '  'f:''"l"-7l"n«sw,th  a  superior  lustre 

•"oto   tl„     ree  „m,.Rl    ,•„.', ''^  llt^aven  to  pro- 
ancient  kinS  of  Fr,„  '      "'."',  ''"W'"«««   »f  the 
Mates  of  America  dLIH  '  ""''  "'^"«"  "»''  "^^"S 
that  the  Un  te  I  Sfff     ^'    '"  S''^''"  "'"'  ^"^"^ive  decree 
inclependen T    viunf  "J  A.nericu   should  be  free  und 
sider^ou  are  but  ^n  ;,r    M ''™',  ^'''   England!    cor- 
I'oen  continued    on"entr    '  T'^  """  y"'""  ?"«'<''•  ''as 
inanity.     Order  yoTr   br  t      '  '^"""•T  "''  J^"'"'  •"'- 
to  retire  from  ArCica    H^'      ™"1'f' ""1   battalions 
Go  ho,ne  anTrtent  In     Z     '7  "*,  ^,°T  "'■"<''"««• 
a..«ravated  cri S      "^.e  c  Ls  of  t''"'"'^^  *"  ^'"■' 
widows  and  orphans  rZ-hlu.  .      '""'"a^d   Parents, 

abominated  by  every' tSenS  1  a'''™"''  ^"-^  >'°"  ^'^ 
friends  the  tories  wfth  v  Amonca.    Take  your 

deep  of  the  c  »  of  I  mfb^  '  ""^r^",  *?""<'>  ""''  'l^ink 
pri.K.es  of  the  '  ,o  „e  of  Pol^h  *^*'  P'^"'"  «•'"'  «>« 
condition  to  wa.^e  war  with  tt""'  *  v  ^"^  "'•«  '"  "" 
diers  are  fallen  Tn  A  L,l  *,'''"•  ^  "»''  ^■'•'te™n  sol- 
Be  quiet  :"rp;to«Ti'eS  iz^t'rT'- 

ot  the  Hessians.  There  is  rn  3^^'^'v  tor  the  hire 
get  into  credit  again  but  bv  r.f  T^  *'''  ^'"  *^ 
.honesty,  which  yo^u  l^ve  de  Led  ;"f ''"  ""'^  ^'^'^ 
oj  no  means  sufecient  to  su  o^ort  '>ufv7ni[v  ^'"jT  '' 
liad  opportunity  to  see  a  ieat  dea  of  I  /"^  1 1^^ 
severe   effects    iTid    Ino        j    i  ^*  ^^'  '^""  ^elt  its 

policy,  :":„  i  wore  vo ,rt  ^'^'■"'  "^  '''"^°'"  ""^ 
titte/'reriling  Ini  reZach  7  IT'  ""''  ^T  y"'"" 
a  smattering"  of  phi losoX  »  ^  Y** ''''"''''''''g  «<' 
nature  in  all  its  sta "«  f",?  ^', ,  "'^  ™derstand    human 

acquajnted  l/t'h  yrnatS^c^:;'  J  ?!".  '"-"^"'"X 


rB::;::::.t;,'::::™  r:  :,r """'  ^'""'  "■'-  -^  -'« "■-«' 


276        FniAN  AIXEN  AND  OKEKN-MOUNTAIN  HKK0E8. 


•M' 


Vii  ",  'I  I  '' 


j|4i 


I 


«    ^ 


connected  with  power,  or  in  other  words,  power  is  their 
oiispriiig,  and  such  po>ver  as  is  r2ot  directed  by  virtue, 
wisdom  and  policy  never  fails  tinally  to  destroy  itself 
as  yours  has  done.  It  is  so  in  the  nature  of  things, 
and  unfit  that  it  would  be  otherwise ;  for  if  it  was 
not  so,  vanity,  injustice,  and  oppression,  might  reigu 
triumphant  forever.  I  know  you  have  individuals,  who 
still  retaiii  their  virtue,  and  consequently  their  honor 
and  hunmnity.  Those  I  really  pity,  as  they  must 
more  or  less  suffer  in  the  calamity,  in  which  the  na- 
tion is  plunged  headlong;  but  as  a  nation  1  hate  and 
despise  you. 

My  affections  are  Frenchified.  I  glory  in  Louis 
the  sixteenth,  the  generous  and  Dovverful  ally  of  these 
states  ;  am  fond  of  a  connection  with  so  enterprising, 
learned,  j)ulite,  courteous  and  commercial  a  nation,  and 
am  sure  that  I  express  the  sentiments  and  feelings  of 
all  the  friends  to  the  present  revolution.  I  begin  to 
learn  the  French  tongue,  and  recommend  it  to  my 
countrymen,  before  Hebrew,  Greek  or  Latin,  (provided 
that  one  of  them  only  are  to  be  attended  to)  for  the 
trade  and  commerce  of  these  states  in  future  must  in- 
evitably shift  its  channel  from  England  to  France, 
Spain  and  Portugal  ;  and  therefore  tlie  statesman,  pol- 
itician and  merchant,  need  be  acquainted  with  their 
several  languages,  particularly  the  French,  which  is 
much  in  vogue  in  most  parts  of  Europe.  Nothing 
could  have  served  so  effectually  to  illuminate,  polish 
and  enrich  these  states  as  the  present  revolution,  as 
well  ?.s  preserve  their  liberty.  Mankind  are  naturally 
too  national,  even  to  a  degree  of  bigotry,  and  commer- 
cial intercourse  with  foreign  nations,  has  a  great  and 
necessary  tendency  to  improve  mankind,  and  erase  the 
superstition  of  the  mind  by  acquainting  them  that 
human  nature,  policy  and  instinct,  are  the  same  in  all 
nations,  and  at  the  same  time  they  are  bartering  com- 
modities for  the  conveniences  and  happiness  of  each 
nation,  they  may  reciprocally  exchange  such  part  of 
their  customs  and  manners  as  mav  be  beneficial,  and 
learn  to  extend  charity  and  good  will  to  the  whole 
world  of  mankind.     I  was  confined  in  the  provost-gaol 


(| 


NAKKATIVR    OF   ALLKn's    CAPTIVITY.  277 

bor  ot  New.i„rk,  i„  whicl,  I  was  ^M,a,"l,!  I  tc,  Stain 

transihVm  fJ/    ,i    ""^'  ^  "'""^  an  oI)servaMo!i  on  rnv 
nri:T     "^"^  V?  I''^*'"'^  criminals  to  the  comp-inv 
o    genrlemen,  ad,  ing  tl.at  I  was  the  same  inan^H 
and  should  give  the   Britis}.  credit,  by  him    speak     ; 
to  tJ^.e  genera  )  for  two  days  good  usage.  ^^I^^*^'^^"i^' 

Hie  next  day  colonel  Archibald  (^aniDbell  wlm  «,.,. 

i»n.  i3oucJinot,  the  then  An^rican  coinmi'cao..,,    .•      • 
-;n™,and  saluted  „.e  in,,  h^;    o  r  Zni      .  "i;: 

lite  and  I  gave  l.im  to  nnde.vtand  tliSt  I  was  enn«  iv 

"  t  same  mot  ve.    Tlie  gentlemen  present  lau.^lied  at 

tlie  fancy,  and  conjectnred  that  sweet  lil.ertv  w  s  the 

omidatmn   of  on.-  gladness  :  so  we  to^  ?  ,^^1  „,■ 

Uinipbell,  colonel  Campbell  Mr  T-im^.Jir,  I  ^,'^'^'- 
mnnbe,.  „f  ,«„-s,,  .■ffieerto^he^'boat'w  IsT  dv 
twined  ,."  El-f l>ethtown.point.  Meanwhile  I  enter^ 
tained  the>n  with  a  rehearsal  of  the  ernelties  exerdsed 
towards  our  prisoners  ;  and  assured  them  t^at  Ishould 
Kso  iny  ,n«„ence.  that  their  prisoners  shcmd  be  treated 

e at  o;;r;!"thM  ft'!"  T?""'  "^  '^'"'^  ^'''-M  in  S 
ca4s  nt'  tl'""^'^  1  was  right  in  such  extreme 
cases,  that  their  example  should  be  applied  to  their 
own  prisoners  ;  then  exchanged  the  deeVn  ceremonks 
of  compliment,   and  parted!"     I   sailed   toTe   p°in 

Th^"  ,        .■"    ^  financed  into  the  country,  received 
the  acclamation,  of  a  grateful  people.  ^   ™«ivea 

1  soon  fell  into  company  with  colonel  Shelden  of  the 
light  horse,  who  in  a  polite  and  obliging  manner  ac 
compared  me  to  head  quarters,  Vallefri^e  where  f 


^a 


9u 


■^^. 


'^^i^y  .0. 


y 
^ 


Q      <.^  %^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


V 


A 


%^ 


%  «' 


Q.. 


^ 


^ 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


|50     == 


2.2 


us 


!^       2.0 


IIIW 

\A.  111.6 


p 


<^ 


^^4 


/a 


^A. 


'■^ 


*^^  .^^' 


^^ 


>> 


A 


'/». 


/ 


/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^^W 


"•b 


nr^f^ 


mmm 


278  ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GliEEN-Mcd'NTAIN  liElIuES. 

was  courteously  received  by  Gen.  Washington,  with 
peculiar  marks  of  his  approbation  and  esteem,  and 
was  introduced  to  most  of  the  generals,  and  many  of 
the  principal  otiicers  of  the  army,  who  treated  me 
with  respect,  and  after  having  offered  Gen.  Washing- 
ton my  further  services  in  iTehalf  of  my  country,  as 
soon  as  my  healtli,  which  was  very  much  impaired, 
M'ould  admit,  and  obtain  his  license  to  return  home, 
J  took  my  leave  of  his  excellency,  and  set  out  from 
Valley  Forge  with  general  Gates  and  his  suit  foi 
Fishkill,  where  we  arrived  the  latter  end  of  May.  In 
i^'iis  tour  tiie  general  was  pleased  to  treat  me  with  the 
familiarity  of  a  companion,  and  generosity  of  a  loro, 
and  to  him  I  ma^^e  known  some  striking  circu'nstances 
which  occurred  in  the  course  of  ray  captivity.  I  then 
bid  farewell  to  my  noble  general  and  the  gentlemen  of 
his  retinue,  and  set  out  for  Bennington,  the  capital  of 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  where  1  arrived  the  evening 
of  the  last  day  of  May,  to  their  great  surprise;  for  1 
was  thought  to  be  dead,  and  now  both  their  joy  and 
mine  was  complete.  Three  cannon  were  fired  that 
evening,  and  next  morning  colonel  Herrick  gave  orders 
and  fourteen  more  were  discharged,  welcoming  me  to 
Bennington,  my  usual  place  of  abode  ;  thirteen  for  the 
United  States,  and  one  for  Young  Vermont. 

After  this  ceremony  was  ended  we  moved  the  flow- 
ing bowl,  and  rural  felicity,  sweetened  with  friendship, 
glowed  in  each  countenance,  and  with  loyal  healths  to 
the  rising  States  of  America,  concluded  that  evening, 
and,  with  the  same  loyal  spirit,  I  now  conclude  niy 
narrative. 


;fi! 


jES. 


ton,  with 
em,  and 
many  of 
ated  me 
(Vashing- 
iintrv,  as 
m  paired, 
•n  home, 
)ut  from 
suit  foi 
lay.  In 
with  the 
f  a  lora, 
"istances 
I  then 
eraen  of 
ipital  of 
evening 
ie ;  for  1 
joy  and 
red  that 
'  e  orders 
ig  me  to 
n  for  the 

;he  flow- 
endship, 
ealths  to 
evening, 
iude  niy 


CHAPTER    ly. 

TEE  GREE.^-MOi;XTAI.V   HEROES 

fabulous  Wends     Th.  „  Z^'"  "'"'  "''«'="'•«  <»■ 

rise  and  p^e  ^  liTT-  "'■  ""^  """""•  ^^  '^^ 
tinctly  known  The  .'  T  "''"""'"''^'  ""^^  ><-  ^is- 
&n>/ar  ac,:ai„t?„:eXrer'''T  ''^^^'^  -<> 
Host  national  ancestors  and  nf  "  "^  *^"'  ^^^- 

eration  through  whTSCnTe  Z7'''''  ''"■ 
name  and  fortune  has  dev-olvern  17.  ^  '"""'"^' 
this  interestin.,  knowlZ,  vf      ^^"'<''™'-  "«'''<«' 

■nation  that  t^^ir  eZl^'  ''  """"^'^  ^''^  'he  infor- 

t^e  noMest  ert:T:rd:ra?T*^ '" 

ni-nity,  and  .l,at  every  succji've  *      v  "   .  "'"^^ 
-e.  .ihert,  and  ^.ne^'Tr ^ -ri;-^ 


(ill 


H'l 


i*  t 


•1.! 


•  r ! 


H 


..   I 


280        KTIIAN  Ar.LEN  AND  GUKEN-MOl'NTAIN  ItKKOR'R, 

Becnied,  has  arisen  from  the  exercise  of  the  same  qual^ 
ities,  and  evinced  their  faithful  preservation  and  unim- 
paired cthcucj, —  respect  for  former  times  becomes  the 
motive  and  pledge  of  virtue  ;  the  whole  nation  feels 
itself  ennobled   by  ancestors   whose  renown  will  con- 
tinue till  the  end  of  time  the  honor  or  reproach  of  theii 
successors ;  and   the  love  of  virtue  is  so  interwoven 
with  patriotism  and   national  glory,  as  to  prevent  the 
one  from  becoming  a  selfish  principle,  and  the  othei 
a  splendid   or   mischievous  illusion.     If  an  inspired 
apostle   might  with  complacency  proclaim  himself  a 
citizen  of  no  moan  city,  an  American  may  feel  grateful 
exultation  in  avowing  himself  the  native  of  no  ii  noble 
land, —  but  of  a  land  that  has  yielded  as  great  an  in 
crease  of  glory  to  God  and  of  happiness  to  man,  as  any 
other  portic  u  of  the  world,  since  "the  first  syllable  of 
recorded  time,"  has  ever  had  the  honor  of  producing. 
A  nobler  model  of  human  character  could  hardly  be 
proposed  to  the  inhabitants  of  Kew  England,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  others  of  the  United  States,  than  that  which 
their  own  history  supplies.     It  is  at  once  their  interest 
and  their  glory  to  preserve  with  sacred  care  a  model  so 
rich.y  fraught  with  the  instructions  of  wisdom  and  the 
incitements  of  duty.    The  memory  of  those  whom  they 
claim  as  their  natural  or  national  ancestors,  will   bless 
all  those  who  account  it  blessed  ;  and  the  ashes  of  their 
fathers  will  give  forth  a  nobler  influence  than  the  bones 
of  the  prophet  of  Israel,  m  reviving  piety  and  invig 
orating  virtue.     So  much,  at  the  same  time,  of  human 
weakness   and  imperfection  is  discernible  in  the  con- 
duct, or  is  attested    by  the  avowals  of  these  eminent 
men,  and  so  steady  and  explicit  was  their  reference  to 


heavenly  aid,  of  all  the  ,.ood  tl.ey  were  capaMe  to 

ne  f„„„  or  attan,,  .hat  the  a.Imiration  they  s„  strc^y 

deserve,  enforces  the  soriptnral  testimony  to  the  richel 

of   d.vme  graee,  and   the  reflected  luster  of  human 
Virtue.  iiuuiau 

The  history  of  man   never  exhibited  an  eftort  of 
"ore  vigorous  and  enterprising  virtue,  than  the  orig- 
"ml  m,grat,on  of  the  colonists  of  this  then  distant  an^ 
desolate  region  ;  and  the  annals  of  colonization  do  not 
snpply  a  single  instance  of  the  foundation  of  a  com- 
monwealth,  and  its  advancement  through  a  period  of 
weakness  and  danger  to  strength  and  security,  in  which 
e  pnncpa  actors  have  left  behind  them  a'r;p„tation 
at  once  so  ,1  ustnous  and  unsullied,  with  fewer  memo- 
miscalculated  to  pervert  the  moral  sense,  or  awaken 
the   egret  ot  mankind.    The  relation  of  their  achieve 
ments  has  a  powerful  tendency  to  excite   hope,  and 
annnate    perseverance- to    impart    courage    to  the 
good  and   to   fortify  the   virtues  of  the  b^ave.     The 
Puntans  could  not,  indeed,  boast,  like  the  founders  of 

s!raZ  :;"•■ '""  '^  l  "^"'"'^  P-^---  ^^  -u-re. 
sistance  of  mjur.es,  and  as  faithful  adherence  to  that 

profession,  they  had  so  realized  the  divine  protection  by 

an  exclusive  rel.ance  on  it,  as  to  disarm  tl!e  ferocity  of 

savages  and  conduct  the  establishment  of  their  com 

monwealth  without  violence  and   bloodshed.    ButTf 

they  were  involved  in  numerous  wars,  it  was  the  sin- 

gular  and   honorable  characteristic  of'  them   ail    that 

against  the  unprovoked  inaHo-nitv  nf  fi>^'      j 

J  .1  "MJignin  ot  tJieir  adversanVs 

and  that  not  one  of  them  was  undertaken  from  nTt    I' 
of  conquest  or  plunder.     Though  they  considered  theae 


I! 


i 

i 

,l 

i 

! 

282       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEKOES. 

wars  as  necessary  and  justifiable,  they  deeply  deplored 
them  ;  and,  more  than  once,  the  most  distressing  doubts 
were   expressed,  at  the   dose  of  their  hostilities,  if  it 
were  lawful  for  Chribtians  to  carry  even  the  rigiits  of 
self-defense  to  such  fatal  extremity.     They  behaved  to 
the  Indian  tribes  with  as  much  good-faith  and  justice 
as  they  could  have  shown  to  a  powerful  and  civilized 
people,*  and  were   incited   by  their  inferiority  to   no 
other  acts  than  a  series  of  the  most  magnanimous  and 
laudable   endeavors  to  instruct   their  ignorance,  and 
elevate  their  condition.f     If  they  fell  short  of  the  col- 
onists of  Pennsylvania  in  the  exhibition  of  Christian 
meekness,  they  unquestionably  excelled   them  in    the 
extent  and  activity  of  Christian  labor.     If  the  Quakers 
succeeded   in    disarming  the    Indians,  the    Puritans 
labored  to  convert  them. 

•  Not  only  were  all  the  lands  occupied  by  the  colonists  fairly  pur- 
chased  from  their  Indian  owners,  but  in  some  parts  of  the  country,  the 
lands  were  subject  to  quit-rents  to  the  Indians,  "  which,"  says  Belknap, 
in  1784,  "  are  annually  paid  to  their  posterity."     From  the  many  deeds 
and  other  documents  still  in  existence,  especially  in  the  New-England 
states  and  New  York,  it  is  certain  that  regular  purchases  were  invaria- 
bly made  of  the  Indians.    The  consideration  given  was  usually  small ; 
but  there  is  no  reason  to  suppose  that  it  was  not  all  the  lands  were  worth 
at  the  time.    A  curious  example  of  the  opinions   prevalent  in  early 
times,  and  the  change  which  has  since  occurred,  is  afforded   by  the  mar.- 
ner  in  which  their  payments  were  made,  a  portion  of  the  consideration 
usually  being  spirituous  liquors.    Two  townships  in  the  western  part  of 
Massachusetts,  for  instance,  were  purchased,  according  to  a  deed  which  is 
still    preserved,  for  "  £iGO ,  three  barrels  of  cider,  and   thirty  quarts  qf 
rum." 

t  The  accounts  of  the  first  conversations  which  the  missionaries  had 
with  these  heathen,  abound  with  curious  questions  and  observations  that 
proceeded  from  the  Indians  in  relation  to  the  tidings  that  were  brought 
to  their  ears.    The  account  which  Elliott,  the  "  Apostle  of  the  Indians,*' 


OEIOIN   OP  TOE   BKVVUUC. 


283 


The  In-story  of  the  colonization  of  this  continent 

Sd"  r  "^ ''-'"' ""  ^''''  '^  --  ^^ 

Z  \    J"!  ^'■"''  '•"I"''''''''  ''  >»"  "■«  natural  de- 

lopment  of  the  little  community  that  firat  landed  on 

I  Ijmonth  rock.    Tl,e  American   Revolution  was  ^o 

.udden  outburst  of  popular  fnry.     It  had  its  oi"    n 

«..  stmng  ,„  the  eastern  world,  that  there  seemed  no 
P"s«b,l,ty  that  the  people  would  ever  succeed  in  the 
attamment  of  their  just  rights.  The  fires  of  freedom 
were  quenched  by  the  blood  of  the  scaffold,  or,  if  a 
tyrant  was  overthrown  by  an  indignant  people,  anarchy 
■n  us  most  appalling  form  succeeded,  from  which  there 
was  no  escape,  but  submission  to  the  yoke  of  another 
oppressor.    But  Columbus,  ignorant  of  the  boon  he  was 

a  ked.  Whether  Enghshn.en  ^ere  ever  „.  ig„„,,,„  „f  j,„„  g^^ 

it  .hi  ll      ^  ""'"•  ^'-«''-^-"  ChH,t  could  under.  Jp™;.: 
■n  the  Ind»„  Ja„g„,ge  »    A  .hi,<i,  How  the,,  could  be  an  inL  „f 
God,  .,„ce  ,t  «,  forbidden  in  .he  seco.d  co™.a„d.ent  »    On       !  he 
0  «„„r.  .n  old  Indian,  wi,h  ,ea«  in  his  e,e,,  asked,  Whefter  i     wl 
nonoolaleforsuchanold  n,an   as  he,  who  was  near  death,  lol™ 
and  sceic  after  God  V    A  «c„nd  asked.  How  the  English  c.e    „  dfc 

bad  .11.    «,«  but  one  f„.her  !    Several  inquired.  How  Judas  couta 
off,  ^    r  '"'  """''""'""  *"  «""'  ""'*  "-"-  *<•  P«I»-   ot  God 

hlh    H  T^  ""T''  "'""  ""  ""^'"'^  >■'"«>  ^■»  >■«  -ind  with  her 
husband,  who  pra.ed  b,  her  side  ?    Another,//  W  ,„rf,„^,,   "'; 

•*"'*"' °"i"*'"?"''*  *«  """W  ,„4«  te  „j^,,    Many  o  The 

o„ver,s«nt„,ued   ,o  believe  that  0^.  g«^.  .Un,  L,  Sill 

rved,  had  ,„  reality  great  power,  but  were  spirit,  subo,Ji„.,e 7'^ 

s..ed  to  know  how  many  Gods  the  English  had  ?  When  he  heart  tbev 
had  ut  one,  he  replied  scornfully  :  .  r,  .b,.  „,  ,  ,  ^,„;'  ;  J^ 
Do  they  suppose  I  would  exchange  so  u,.ny  f«,  „„,  J , .  '»«''»' 


m>' 


niy  I 


284 


K'lHAN   ALLEN  AND  OKKEN'-MtiUNTAIN  nKROEB. 


conferring  on  niiinkind,  discovered  a  new  world.     The 
Beads  of  freedom,  wliich  were  not  permitted  to  •Termi- 
nate in  the  old  world,  were  brought  in  the  Mayflower 
to  the  new.    Wise  and  good  men,  disheartened  by  their 
warfare  against  wrong,  fled  to  it  for  an  aeylum.     Neg- 
Iecte<l  by  the  government   under  whose  control  they 
nominally  remained,  they  were  compelled  to  govern 
themselves  — to  make  and  t^dminister  their  own  laws. 
They  were  a  small  community —  all  mutually  known,— 
all  mutually  loved,— all  intelligent,  conscientious,  and 
animated  by  an  ardent  piety.     It  was  not  difticult  for 
them  to  do  justice  to  eaclf  other,  and  in  doing  this, 
they  were  unconsciously  evolving  the  great  principles 
upon  which  all  just  government  must  be  founded.    Had 
they  known  the  importance  of  the  work  in  which  they 
were  engaged,  it  is  doubtful  whether  they  would  liave 
done  it  so  well.     They  gradually  grew  in  strength. 
Other  colonies  were  at  intervals  established  along  the 
Atlantic  coast.     All  were  greatly  influenced  by  the 
example  of  New  England  and  Pennsylvania.     For  a 
century  they  increased  in  power,  their  condition  being 
but  little  kno^,  n   and  little  cared  for  in  Europe,  and 
their  future  greatness   in  no   degree  anticipated   by 
tliemselves.     In  their  wars  with  the  Indians  and  the 
French  colony  of  Canada,  they  were   thrown  almost 
entirely  upon  their  own  resources,  for  the  parent  coun- 
try gave  them  but  a  feeble  and  reluctant  support. 
They  were  compelled  to  unite  for  their  common  de- 
fense, and  in  1754,  delegates  from  the  several  colonies 
met  at  Albany,  and  with  the  illustrious  Franklin  at 
their  head,  devised  a  "plan  of  union,"  which,  although 
it  was  not  adopted  then,  aided  powerfully  in  creating 


tidt; 


CCWllNHNTAI.  OOKOliKas.  ugj 

»  unity  of  feling  a,no„g  the  colonk.s,  and  prepared 
t-»3,.,  tor  ecnbined  resistance  ,„  „,e  tyrannv  j      J 

turn  a  spirit  of  freedom  had   been  nurtured  n„  ^1 
continent;  repnWiean  institutions  iiadCll  t 
ooted,  and  when  the  English  government  JsaU  s^ 

t'.er«.     A  series  of  t  ^"'"'  '°  '^"""'''''  "^'O' 

p.-epared  bv  W^''^^''*  "^^^es  was  rapidly 

piepared  by  the  mniions  of  George  III,  but  they  wem 

sCe  oT"'  ''  '"=--"»g>^.  -d.  after  a  birdy 
struggle  of  seven  years,  effectually 

Tlie  war  had  already  commenced,  when  the  congress 

which  ul  imately  announced  the  final  separation  of tl 

onies  fr       the  parent  country,  assemL  at^Ph  ^ 

Si  ml iT.::'"'irv'''''-' »'"■ 

solemn      Tl        T'"^'"      ^''«  "meeting  was   awfully 

vt  of  in         fu      ""■"'  '"  '■   ''™"g'"  "'«™  the- 
as  of  incalcnlable  magnitude       The  liberties  of  no 

less  than  three  millions  of  peo,  e,  with  that  of  all  Lir 

posterity,  were  staked  on  the  .isdom  and  energy  of 

t  eir  councils.    Ko  wonder,  tl  ,n.  at  the  long  and  deep 

s-lence  which  is  said  to  have  followed  upof  their  „? 

ZT"'  f  "'  """''''  '  '*'  -'-h  'he  merbers 
looked  round  upon  each  other;  and  the  relucTanco 
w  .ch  every  individual  felt  to  open  a  business  eTr 
f^y  momentous.  The  embarrasung  silence  wa  1 1 
ken  by  the  eloquent  Patrick  Henry,  in  a  speech  of 
wonderful  power.  An  ardent  .bve  of  liberty  pe" 
vaded  every  breast,  and  this  speed  produced  a  unanim- 

to  n.a,nta.n,  as  ,t  was  appalling  to  their  adversaries. 


m 


"  I 


280 


KTH  vN  ALLEN  AND  ORKEN-MOUNTAFN  MEFtOKS. 


Ih 


it 

! 

s  >   ■ 

t  i 

i    '-"it 

1     '  j  ; 

1 

The  proceedings  of  this  celebrated  congress,  the  '.one 
and  temper  of  their  various  resolutions,  the  style  of 
their  addresses,  the  composition  of  tiie  several  papers 
that  were  drawn  up  by  them,  were  in  every  particular 
calculated  to  excite  the  admiration  of  the  world.     That 
ari  assembly  of  fifty-two  men,  nearly  all  educated  in  the 
wilds  of  a  new  world,  unpracticed  in  the  arts  of  polity 
and   diplomacy,  most  o^"  them  inexperienced   in  the 
arduous  duties  of  legislation,  coming  from  distant  and 
distinct  governments,  differing   in   religion,  manners, 
customs,  and  habits,  as  they  did  in  their  views  with 
regard  to  the  nature  of  their  connection  with  Great 
Britain  — that  such  an  assembly,  so  constituted,  should 
display  so  much  wisdom,  sagacity,  foresight  and  know- 
ledge of  the  world,  such  skill  in  argument,  such  force 
of  reasoning,  such  firmness  and  soundness  of  judgment, 
so  profound  an  acquaintance  with  the  rights  of  man, 
such  elevation  of  sentiment,  such  genuine  patriotism,' 
and,  above   all,  such   nnexampled   nnity   of   oi)inion 
npon  the  measures  brought  before  them,  was  indeed  a 
political  phenomenon,  to  which    history  has  yet  fur- 
nished no  parallel.     Nor  is  it  less  wonderful,  that  th- 
whole  people  of  the  colonies  represented,  should  have 
regarded  the  simple  recommendations  of  this  congress 
with  the  reverence  and  obedience  due  to  the  strongest 
tiee  of  law.     Even  in  those  colonies  where  law  and^'au- 
thority  had  been  set  cl  defiance,  the  injunctions  of  the 
congress  were  scrupulously  obeyed.  The  whole  country 
was  in  that  awful  calm  of  expectation,  which  nrecedes 
the  bursting  storm.     They  were  yet  willing  to  be  re- 
conciled  with  the  British   government,  but  ready  to 
enforce  their  rights  at  the  risk  of  life. 


!88,  the  'one 
he  style  of 
oral  papers 
f  particular 
arid.     That 
ated  in  the 
ts  of  polity 
led    in  the 
listant  and 
,  manners, 
riews  with 
with  Great 
ted,  should 
and  know- 
such  force 
judgment, 
its  of  man, 
patriotism, 
)f   o])inion 
5  indeed  a 
18  yet  fur- 
il,  that  th' 
ould  have 
s  congress 
3  strongest 
iw  and  au- 
ons  of  the 
le  country 
1  precedes 
to  be  re- 
ready  to 


287 


CIlAKACrER   OF  tHE   OONORE88. 

yjio  can  consider,  without  deep  and  nff«  f 
^^^h'.  that  little  body  of  men  Tk  '^'^*^"g  «)^'"- 

«  ^oung  and  unskilled    peXe  ^^  " /^''^  --  of 

the  power  o^  a  mii^htv  ..f  ^  '  "  '"^  ^'  ^^■'^«"^e 
r^^^^y.  but  advisX'nZlU"^'  ^'^  ^"'  ^'^'"- 
t^eir  own  weakness'  as  w  aJ'Th  "?  ""'^''^' 
8trength,-fee]in^H'.  ^"'  ^^^^^-anes' 

on  their  deci   o„  ^^/^Ponsibility  that  rested 

attempt  and  ri^T'^'l?"-^  ^^«  consequences  of 
of  allthe  mi/:J::',r;  '.'^"'^^^^^  ^""  conviction 
tl^e  cost  of  the  to  t:  fnT  fi  !^^-^"'  "'^^^"^  ^^""^^^ 
ful  as  voluntary  stvel'soir^r^^ 
Bupreme  Judge  o   1^7"^  "  Wealing  to  the 
-tentions,"  atd  pi    "„!   '        f  ^  ^^^^^^^^-^  their 
their  fortunes  and  t^.f  ^        !? ^   '*^^^  *^^^^  ^^^es, 
-Ives  and  tL>   „    T  T    '""'  ^^"^^"^  *^-- 
I'^berty,  denotein!t"  '  "  ""'"  '^^  ^^""-«  of 

of  human  history  anv  H  '  '"^  "^'  ^^^^^  ^^^^^ 

-all^sublimer^Sn^roni 
congress  throuffhnnt  ti,  ,  ™  American 

I^„  J       '■"rougnout  the  nnequa  ed    contest  th=^  r  i 
lowed,  upon  which  hung  not  th^  i;h  V     \  ""'" 

Plo  only,  but  those  of  nfanttd     I         ^  "'  °"  ^^^ 
tl.e  moderation  which  marked!'  •       T-  '"''""''""''  ""' 

t.-"oss;  the  ^rJ^.^Z:''^^^^-^- 
ary  obstinacy,  tempering  .i^r  wl  P''^'"'"""'^- 
■"flexible  principle  lith^foraance-  T  '"'''.  '"' 
">eir  dignity  when  called  npon  11^  odf  T  T^'''"'' 
nncoad.tional  submission  '^°7*">.'°<^<"='<J« between 

^'■th  what  u„da,u:^^"'e„„:"l  [n'^T   'f  '""<" 

choice,  and,  hartug  made^^  wi  1  \™    '  "''  °°"» 

g  made  it,  with  what  unshrinldiig 


2«8 


KTMAN  ALLKN  AND  OREEN-MOCNTAIN  HEROBB. 


M 


h. 


iH 


^  Tl-'i 


i 


fortitude  thoy  met  all  ti.e  vicissitudefl  of  fortune;  the 
el)l)  and  flow  of  the  tide  of  v/ar  ;  the  discontent  of  the 
factious  ;  the  fears  of  the  timid ;  the  despondency  of 
the    liigh-minded;  — never   cast    down    by   repeated 
misfortunes,  nor  too  much  elated  by  momentary  suc- 
0088.    When  the  houseless  people  were  scattered  before 
thoir  invaders ;   when    the   army,  unpaid,  unclothed, 
vainly  sought  assistance  from  the  command*3r,  and  he 
vainly  sought  it  in  the  exJiaustod  treasury;  when  the 
Bword  fell  from  their  faintii^'  hands,  and  the  blank  ot 
despair  seemed  falling  on  their  hearts  ;  still  did  these 
patriots  struggle  on —  still  did  they  find  confidence  in 
their  jus:   cause,  and,  with  their  eves  upon  the  pole- 
star  of  liberty,  did  they  steady  the  iielm  of  the  reeling 
vessel  of  the  infant  state,  ride  out  triumphantly  the 
storm  of  war  and  revolution,  and  gain  the  glorious 
haven  from  which  their  thoughts  had  never  swerved. 
The  annals  of  every  nation  can  supply  us  with  some 
brilliant  charactei-s,  who  stand  superior  to  the    Drdid 
passions  which  sway  the  minds  of  ordinary  men  and 
but  too  often  dictate  the  feelings  of  national  commu- 
nities.   But  rarely,  if  ever,  has  there  been  an  entire 
assembly  of  men,  uniting  all  the   qualities  of  sages 
and  heroes,  — cautious  in  their  deliberations,  firm  and 
'Uited  in  their  measures,  pure  in  their  motives,  and 
oeyond  suspicion  m  their  conduct.    To  the  unbending 
spirit  and    perfect  rectitude  of  the  continental    con- 
gress was  mainly  owing  the  preservation  of  the  Amer- 
ican people,  not  only  from  foreign  conquest,  but  from 
intestine  broils.    To  their  little  senate-room,  amid  all 
the  changes  of  war,  did  the  eyes  of  the  people  ever 
turn  in  hope  and  confidence.    Were  their  little  arriiies 


PlIHITY  ,IF  THE   COXfiltus,. 


me 


'.n,.a«|;  were  their  hemic  general,  fighting  in  rctrerf 
were:.e,r  cities  taken ,  were  their  houJinflir. 
was    the,r    comn,erce   destroyed ;    were    their    nZl 
d^vastate    ;  were  their  gold  and  tneir  ere       go 
they  Cll  looked  to  ...at  high-minded  assemhiy,  whl 
counsels  they  were  satisfied,  we.  ever  patriot  c  and 
w.se,  and  whose  energies  were  ever  e.nploved  to  relieve 
the  sufrer,ngs  thoy  ccnid  not  prevent     it  is  into  est 
"g  to   nnagine  what   must    have    been   the  e  rlt 
thoughts  of  this  noble  body  of  men  throughout    la 
^^mg  contest;  what  their  anxieties;  and,  finally  w 

when  the  fd.ngs  reached  them  that  the  last  .reat 
v.ctory  was  achieved.  The  old  door-keep  „f^ Xe 
congress,  w^^en  the  news  suddenly  reached  him  of  t  e 
urrender  of  Cornwallis,  dropped  instantly  deadl  i 
f™l.ngs  of  the  veteran,  too  intense  for  i  feeble  'e 
Beem  to  ,mage  well  those  of  the  members  of  tha 
assembly  upon    which   ho  h„A  i.  „  . 

attenda;t.  "''  '"'™   '"  «''*f'''   "" 

In  the  history  of  the  American  Revolution,  the  integ- 
nty  of  the  congress  and  the  confidence  Of  the  peopfe 
:n    he,r  mtegrity  equally  challenge  admiration."  The 
fl  St  was  so  pure,  that  throughout  that  distracted  period 
w  "ch  m,ght  so  well  have  furnished  temptation  to  the 
selfish  or  the  ambitious,*  we  do  not  find'one    nemb 


•  j(  I 


be  would  pe™I  «;«    to  1    f  •  T  '''*'"°"''  "'"■ ''«»«'  ""l"" 


9i.,r"! 


';; 


, 

:' 

||,ii '^n 

!-/    '1    f  '    ' 

1  1 

J   f 

:\: 

'i  ■ 
I 

■Sm  ^ 

290        ETHAN  ALTJ;N  Amy  green-mountain  HEK0E8. 

of  that  magnanimous  body  even  suspected  of  i)ecnla- 
tion,  or  of  a  desire  for  personal  aggrandizement ;  and 
the  latter  was  so  entire,  that,  daring  the  worst  days 
of  that  stormy  period,  the  public  suffering  was  never 
charged  to  any  willful  mism.anagement  on  the  part  of 
the  government  —  not  even  when   its  faith  was  vio- 
lated, by  the  gradual  depreciation  and  final  extinction 
of  a  paper  currency,  which  had   been  issued  without 
funds,  and  which  ceased  to  circulate,  with  scarce  the 
shadow  of  a  prospect   being   held  out   for  its    future 
redemption.      The  people    saw  the   necessity  of  the 
measure,  and  being  well  convinced  that  the  good  of 
their  country  had  been  promoted,  quietly  submitted  to 
measures   which,   under   other   circumstances,  would 
scarcely  have  been  expiated  by  the  lives  and  fortunes 
of  their  authors. 

That  a  government  framed  in  all  the  distraction  of 
revolution — with  a  powerful  enemy  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  country,  the  Indians  on  one  side  as  their  allies, 

and  tie  ocean  on  the  other,  possessed  by  their  fleets, 

that,  at  such  a  time,  a  government  so  hastily  organ- 
ized, with  armies  untrained,  unfed,  unclothed,  and 
without  a  treasury  to  meet  the  demands  that  assailed 
them  on  every  side,  should  have  preserved  the  public 
confidence,  argues  a  degree  of  moderation  on  the  part 
of  congress,  and  of  good  sense  and  devoted  feeling 
on  that  of  the  people,  which,  perhaps,  in  the  history  of 
ancient  or  modern  times  was  never  equaled,  and  cer- 
tainly has  never  been  surpassed. 

would  Jay  down  his  life  to  save  mine,  but  I  am  sure  that  he  would  not 
sacrifice  his  honor  to  save  my  life,  and  I  appla-id  him."  This  prisoner, 
not  long  afterward,  had  the  gratification  of  assisting  in  negotiating  » 
poaro  between  Great  Britain  wid  the  free  Republic  of  the  United  State* 


nent ;  and 


I  was  vjo- 


PATEIOTISM   OF  THU   PEOPLE.  291 

liberty^  ILTT  "'  ""!  '"P"'^  "'''*  '''^"'^^  ">« 
gni  bed  for  ,ts  prudence,  and  its  intrepidity.  Like  a 
eautjous   general,  they   advanced  slowly,  but  never 

At  first  called  together  by  the  voice  of  their  fcUow^t 
-ns  without  the  consent,  or  rather  in  very  dZpt 
of  existing  authorities,  the  legality  of  whose  twIT 
-.ned  unquestioned,  they  cal,^lyto'olc  inr  v Lte I" 
Ion,al  grievances,  and  petitioned  for  redress  upln  thol 
constitutional  grounds,  acknowledged  by  the  di  1 
monarchy  which  claimed   their  allgianL     w  ^ 

tiirrth  '°T  r  ""^^  '^"^'  '"^^  p-«^  -0 

dTess  If  th  "''"'™'"=^  "'  '""'"''  »"«■  'he  re 

dress  of  their  enumerated  grievances  should  be  ob- 

ained    they  bound  themselves  by  the  ties  of  honor, 
and   of   patriotism.     That  these  simple  ties  should 
have  proved  sufficient  to  hold  together' the  p'eople" 
distan    provinces,  who  had  heretofore  oft-a  been  di- 
vided  by  jealousies  and  clashing  interests,  and  to  give 
irf'!      ,?  ^eoommendations  of  private  indivMu- 
als,  as  absolute  as  could  have  followed  upon  the  flat  of 
an  established  despot,  affords  a  beautifid  evidence  o 
the  readiness  with  which  national  obedience  is  yielded 
when  the  hearts  of  the  people  are  with  their  rulen,' 
These  recommendations  were  sufficient  at  once  to  su^ 
persede  the  authority  of  existing  law,  and  to  triumph 
over  the  strongest  passions  of  humanity.    From  what- 
ever  cause  it  proceeded,  it  is  certain  that  a  disposition 
to  do    to  suffer,  and  to  accommodate,  spread  from 
breast  to  breast,  and  from  colony  to  colony,  beyond  the 
^..^...atxuns  ui  iiuinan  opinions.    It  seemed  as  though 


£92 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREKN-MOUNTALV  HEKOKS. 


1 1 


I 


>fi  '>' 


'in 


one  mind  inspired  the  whole.    The  merchants  put  far 
behind  them  the  gains  of  trade,  and  cheerfulJj  submit- 
ted to  a  total  suspension  of  business,  in  obedience  to 
the  recommendations  of  men  claiming  no  legislative 
authority.    The  cultivators  of  the  soil,  with  unanimity 
assented  to  the  determination  that  the  hard-earned  pro- 
duce of  their  farms  should  remain  unshipped,  although, 
in  case  of  a  free  exportation,  many  would  have  been 
eager  to  purchase  it  from  them  at  advanced  prices. 
The  sons  and  daughters   of  ease  renounced  imported 
conveniences,  and  voluntarily  engaged  to  eat,  drink, 
and  wear  only  such  articles  as  their  country  produced! 
These  sacrifices  were  made,  not  from  the  pressure  of 
present  distress,  but  on  the  generous  principle  of  sym- 
pathy  with  an  invaded  sister  colony :  and  the  prudent 
policy  of  guarding  against  a  precedent  which  might, 
on  a  future  day,  operate  against  their  liberties. 

This  season  of  universal.distress  exhibited  a  striking 
proof  how  practicable  it  is  for  mankind  to  sacrifice 
ease,  pleasure,  and  interest,  when  the  mind  is  strongly 
excited  by  its  passions.    In  the  midst  of  their  sufter- 
ihgs,  cheerfulness  appeared  in  the  face  of  the  people. 
They  counted  every  thing  cheap  in  comparison  with 
liberty,  and  readily  gave  up  whatever  tended  to  en- 
danger it.     A  noble  strain  of  generosity  and  mutual 
support  was  generally  excited.    The  animation  of  the 
times  raised  the  actors  in  these  scenes  above  them- 
selves,  and   incited  tLem  to  deeds  of  self-denial,  which 
the  interested  prudence  of  calm  reason  can   scarcely 
credit. 

But,  though  empowered  by  their  feUow  citizens  to 
think  and  act  for  them,  at  i  time,  too,  when  the  public 


o ! 


h  I 


DECLAEATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE.  293 

teeling  was  wrought  to  the  highest  pitch  of  enthusi- 
asm, the  delegates  in  congress  never  exceeded   the  ne- 
cessity of  the  occasion.     They  kept  in  view  the  interest 
and  honor  of  the  community,  but  held   their  passions 
m  check.    So  long  as  the  most  distant  prospect  re- 
mained to  them  of  obtaining  the  acknowledgment  of 
their  country's  rights,  they  preserved  the  language  and 
character  of  British  subjects.    When  all  hope  of  re- 
conciliation had  expired,  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
once  followed.     The  wishe«  of  the  peop^    had  preceded 
the  act  of  their  representatives,  and  the  style  of  that 
act  yet  affixed  a  new  yeal  of  confirmation  to  their 
wishes.    The  simple  exposition  of  moral  and  political 
truths  with  which  it  opens,  elevated  still  higher  the 
already  sublime   character  of  the  public  sentiment ; 
the  energetic  enumeration  of  the  national  wrongs,  ojj- 
posed  as  in  contrast  to  these  great  laws  of  nature,  kin- 
dled anew  the  national  indignation ;  the  solemn  appeal 
to  the  Creator,  and  the  sacred  pledge  of  life,  fortune 
and  honor,  with  which  it  closes,  roused  all  the  devotion 
of  human  hearts  and  manly  minds— and,  assuredly, 
never  was  it  aroused  in  a  better  or  nobler  cause.    It 
was  not  the  cause  of  the  Americans  only  ;   it  was  the 
cause  of  the  very  people  whose  injustice  they  opposed  ; 
it  was  the  cause  of  every  people  on  earth.    Well  might 
that  high-minded  patriot  and  statesman,  the  Earl  of 
Chatham,  exclaim  in  the  British  parliament,  in  the 
face  of  the  British  minister,  «I  rejoice  that  America 
has  resisted ! "    Well  might  he  observe,  that  "three 
millions  of  fellow-creatures,  so  lost  to  every  sense  of 
virtue  as  tamely  to  give  up  their  liberties,  would  be  fit 
instruments  to  make  slaves  of  the  rest."  Had  America 


fir- 


j., 


1^^    > 


li' 


i    '    M 


294       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OEEEN-MOUNTAIN  HERO.:S. 

P    homcnts,  soon  would   that  same  parliament  have 

^ad  the  infant  America  been  overwhelmed  by  the  ar- 
oTiT  .  upon  her  shores,  with  the  bnried  libert,^ 
of  the  people,  her  victors  would   have  buried  forever 

Then,  mdeed  upon  England's  faded  brow  would  have 
been  stamped  the  moral,  that 

2n '?"\!'"''^  '"^"'  "^''^  "t"''"™'  ">ht.s  invade 

Shall  doubly  rue  the  havoc  thoy  have  made 

And  in  a  brother's  liberty  o'erthrown  ' 

Shall  weep  to  find  that  they  have  wrecked  their  own." 

Hostilities  had  been  continued   between  the  parent 
country  and  the  colonies  for  upward  of  a  year  before 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  promulgated. 
The  affair  of  Lexington  had,  of  course,  been  the  signal 
for  war,  throughout  the  colonies.    The  forts,  magazines 
and  arsenals  were  everywhere  seized.      Troops  were 
raised,  and  money  for  their  support ;  and  it  was  not 
many  weeks  before  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men 
appeared   in  the  environs  of  Boston,  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Putnam,  a  veteran  of  the  French  war, 
in  whom  the  people  had  great  confidence.    Allen  had 
succeeded  in  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point.    The  next  aci  in  the  grand  drama  then  unfolding 
was  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.    Toward  the  close  of  May, 
1775,  reinforcements  of  British  troops  had  arrived  at 
Boston,  with  Generals  Howe,  Burgoyne  and  Clinton, 
all  of  whom  were  officers  of  reputation.    The  provin- 
cial congress  of  Massachusetts  had,  early  in  that  month, 
renounced  General  Gage,  as  governor  of  the  colony, 


V   i 


BATTLE  or  BUNKER  Bin,.  ggg 

decUred  him  an  enemy  of  the  country,  and  forbidden 

obed,ence  to  his  orders.    On  the  other  hand,  Gag   i  ad 

Bsued  h,s  proclamation,  promising  a  gracious  pardon 

to  al!  who  would  lay  down  their  am,:  and  return  to 

dared   oJ-tfl      "~''''  "''"^  "^^''^^  --cl- 
eared  of  "  too  flag,t,„ns  a  nature  to  admit  of  any 

other  co„s,deratio„  than  that  of  condign  punishment." 
%  the  same  ."strument,  Massachusetts  was  declared  to 
be  under  mart,al  law.  General  Gage  was  also  prepa^ 
'ng,  m  other  respects,  for  more  energetic  action  ;  but 
every  measure  he  took,  and  every  moment  that  passed 
served  on  y  to  unite  and  embolden  the  patriots  Tnd 
increase  the  audacity  with  which  they  now,  by  'the"  r 
conduc  as  we  1  as  by  their  words,  contLned  the  roy 

fol°    '•    I':  P™""""''  ''~P^  ''-^  assembled  7n 
fo,ce  a  ound  Boston,  and  were  throwing  up  defenses 

when  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  at  oncf  and  f^rer 

The  fightmg  on  th,s  occasion  was  of  such  a  determined 
character  as  to  show  the  enemy  that  it  was  no  pastime 
..pen   wb,ch  they  had   entered.    One  of  the  British 
officers,  ,n  writing  home  to  a  friend,  declared   that 
the  rebels  fought  more  like  devils  than  men."    The 
loss  of  the  British  in  killed  and  wounded  was  upward 
of  a  thousand,  while  that  of  the  provincials  fell  short 
of  halt  that  number.    The  great  calamity  of  the  day 
-as  the  fall  of  the  brave  and  accomplished  WarreT 
who  was  shot  through  the  head  early  i„  the  action.      ' 
The  mhab.tants  of  the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  with 
bu.  fewexcepbons,  partook  largely  of  the  feelings  which 
"erv£«led  the  country  during  the  pro»re.s  of  Z  ..,.--»<. 


I*  i  i 


'  I 


pi    !    i 


^ngagcd    ,n    subduing     a  forest,   and   in    laving    . 
acquired  a  ],il  sen  fo'7'  ^'"'^'•'""-''  «'«?  !"«» 

on  tbe  pa.  o.t  I'rf-'l  ^^nf  5^  7 

were  takln '  to   R    ,      r''""'^  ^'"''^^  ""'^^  "^q^i^ed 
mr/of  wl  ""  ^^  '^^  «reen-Mou,,tain  Boys 

.•nv^siororcr?"".'""^"  P'P''-'^  "■«  ™y  for  the 
'wvasion  ot  Canada,  which  oloapri  fi,^  «    ^ 

Thia  measure   had   been  eanlt.  """P"'^"- 

congress    by  Ethan   A  W^    ^  LhT""'^! '" 

British  ministry  had  sen    1  .   '""""''      ^''« 

y  aaa  sent,  as  governor  of  this  provjpce, 


SIR   GUY   CARLETON. 


297 


arms  against  the  colonies.    i,oul  tHhl        '''™  '" 
ment,  he  had  fn„„^        .       -I'lougn,  at  the  commence- 

i'wat^tSfh:t;'''"^'7-.-»-gthe  forme, 

'-orit,,  he  JS^:^!::!5'vt^  -i  - 

that  they  cherished  a  sullen  dionnT  "'  ''"' 

the ''Quebec  act,"  whieh:;tTh  t  J^birrl  •' 

advantage  of  H       !,  '^^''  "''"^^^^^  *«  take 

on  the  one  hand  by  their  hatred  to  their  rulers  and 
reassured  on  the  other  by  the  moderation  Sh  t,e 

called  to  Boston.    In  addifinn  f/*u  ^      ^ 

™    ij  !_  iwices,  arms,  and  m  unit  on  a 

would  be  poured  into  it,  in  order  to  ^ttact  the  ol 
me^  by  way  of  Late  Champlain,  an  operation  wbth 
tf  not    seasonably    prevented    ^^..\     ,  ''^"' 


might 


to    fatal 


298 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


mi'' 


14*  >  i '' 


^>.   »        ail 


hi'  i 


h   i 

Vfl 

Wit  ^ 


m 


!l^1 


consequences.    Tlie  colonists,  assailed  at  the  same  time 
m  front  and  rear,  could  not  liuvo  expected  to  resist 

Lake  Cbauiplain  was  in  possession  of  the  Ameri- 
cans,  which  opened  to  them  the  most  eligible  route  to 
Uanada.     A  more  propitious  occasion  could  never  oc- 
(•ur.    The  British  troops,  shut  up  in  Boston,  and  occu- 
pied  with  their  own  defense,  were  noi  in  a  condition  to 
cany  succors  into  a  part  so  remote  from  the  position 
they  then  occupied.     But   it  was  to  be  feared   that 
longer  delays  would  aflbrd  time  for  the  British  ministry 
to  make  the  necessary  preparations  to  overpower  the 
colonies  by  a  single  effort,  and  reduce  them  to  their 
former  dependence.    Prudent  men,  however,  could  not 
shut  their  eyes  upon  the  numerous  difficulties  it  pre- 
sented.    But  a  resolution  having  been  carried  in  favor 
of  the  expedition,  congress  was  not  tardy  in  taking  all 
the  measures  proper  to  secure  its  success.    Three  thou- 
sand soldiers,  partly   of  New  England,  and   partly  ' 
of  New  York,  were  selected  for  the  enterprise.     One 
regiment,  under  the  command  of  Seth  Warner,  who 
had    been  elected    their  colonel,  was   composed   of 
Green-Mountain    Boys.      It  was    determined    to   in- 
vade Canada  by  two  routes  — one- portion  of  the  army 
being  destined  to  proceed  by  the  way  of  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  against  Forts  Chambly  and  St.  John,  near  the 
mouth  of  the  lake,  and  then,  after  reducing  Montreal, 
to  march  against  Quebec  ;  the  other  branch  of  the 
ai-my  was  to  be  detached  from  the  environs  of  Bobton, 
and,  going  by  the  way  of  the  Kennebec  river,  move 
directly  toward  Quebec,  with  design  of  reaching  that 
fortress  cotemporaneously  with  the  other.     Major-gen- 
eral Schuyler  was  appointed  commander-in-chief  of  the 


GENERAL   MONTQOMEUY. 


299 


expedition,  while  Brigadier-general  Montgomery  *  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  first  division  of  the 
army,  and  Colonel  Benedict  Arnold  to  the  other. 

1736"tiM  ^'"?°""^  ^"^  ^°"'  '^^  ^^«  "-th  of  Ireland,  December  2d. 
1736     Lmle  .s  known  of  his  early  life.     When  quite  young,  he  wa 
placed  ,n  Dnbhn  college,  where  he  obtained  a  good  eduLio.!    AtZ 
age  of  twenty  he  joined  the  army.    He  was  sent  with  the  arn,y  «g  i  J 
Louubo.^.  afterward  serv^  ..,er  Am,..,  .t   Ticonderoga.'arZ 
^ihWoU.a.tU..eseor  Quebec.    He  thus  became  specially  quali  J 
n  the  se,v,ce  of  the  King  of  England,  to  lead  the  continental  troops 
aga.ns  that  monarch.    At  the  close  of  the  French  war.  Montgomery  was 
permuted  to  return  to  Europe,  where  he  remained  until  1772.    TowL 
the  close  of  that  year,  he  reigned  the  service,  sailed  for  America,  and 
ar.ed,nNewYorkin   the  following  Janna,y.    He  purchased  a  arm 

Itri    ;    7' ''''  '''''  '"*  ^'''  ^^^™^^  ^-'-'^  ^"  ^"^^fa- 

county,  where  for  a  long  time  he  devoted  himself  to  the  pursuit  of  aeri- 
..Iture.    While  at  the  former  place,  he  married  the  eldest'da^   f  R 
R.  Livingston,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  supreme  court  of  thT  province 
and  subsequently  member  of  the  conUnental  congress.    As  the' dispute 
between  England  and  her  colonies  had  now  become  serious,  it  wasl 
pjbl.  for  an  individual  circumstanced  like  Montgomery  to  remain  neu- 

A      ,Tt"f '       '""'  '  '"''^'  P^'^  ^"-  *^«  --«  «f  ^-edom.  and 
in  April.  1 .75  h.  was  elected  to  represent  Dutchess  county  in  the  dele- 

gation  to  the  first  New-York  provincial  convention.    The  laboi.  o^  the 

convention  seem  to  have  been  rather  tedious  and  unsatisfactory,  and 

final  y  r^uited  in  little  good  to  the  cause  to  espouse  which  they  had  con- 

Z    H-  T-  '''  """"^  °'  '""'^  '"^^'  ^•'"^^--y  --ed  a 

more  highly  important  office  than  any  that  had  hitherto  fallen  to  bis  lo\ 

and  one.  too.  of  which  he  had  little  expectation.    In  June,  the  conti.' 

nental  congress  appointed  four  major,  and  eight  brigadier  generals 

naming,  among  the  latter.  Montgomery.    His  sunrise  at  the  news  of  thia' 

flattering  distinction  was  equaled  by  his  modest  though  heartfelt  ac 

knowkdgment  of  it ;  and.  with  the  acceptance  of  that  commission,  com- 

menced  his  brief  but  glorious  career  in  the  cause  of  freedom.    In  a 

letter  to  a  friend  he  says :  "  The  Congress  having  done  me  the  honor  of 

e  ecting  me  a  brigadier-general  in  their  service,  is  an  event  which  must 

ptit  an  end  for  a  while,  perhaps  forever,  to  the  auiet  uch.me  of  ii»^  J 

Mad  prescribed  for  myself;  for.  though  entirely  unexpected  and  uudesired 


300 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MODNTAIN  HEKOEfl. 


K 


General  Montgomery  ropaired  to  Ticonderoga  on 
the  17th  of  August,     lie  here  learned  that  Sir  Guy 
Carleton,  the  military  governor  of  Canada,  was  pre- 
paring a  naval  force  destined  to  the  defense  of  Lake 
Ohamplain.    As  immediate  action  was  now  of  vital 
importance,  Montgomery  determined  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  Isle  Aux  Noix  in  the  lake,  and  wrote  to 
General  Schuyler,  signifying  his  intention  to  that  effect, 
and    entreating    his   immediate   presence.     Without 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  this  commander,  he  selected 
about  one  thousand  men,  and  two  pieces  of  cannon, 
and  embarked  on  the  lake,  August  26th.    The  weather 
was  80  boisterous  that  he  was  not  able  to  reach  the 
island  before  the  6th  of  September,  on  which  day  he 
was  joined  by  Major-general  Schuyler,  who  determined 
upon  a  nearer  approach  to  the  enemy,  both  with  a 
view  of  reconnoitering  their  position,  and  of  enlisting 
the  esteem  and  confidence  of  the  population.    This 
maneuver  was  signally  successful,  the  army  landing 
within  about  a  mile  and  a  half  of  St.  John's  without 
encountering  opposition.  The  troops  were  soon  formed 
and    marched   toward  the  fort.     In    this  movement, 
while  fording  a  creek,  they  met  with  a  party  of  In- 
dians, who  fired  upon  their  left,  and  threw  it  into  dis- 
order.    But  Montgomery  hastened  forward  with  the 

by  me,  the  will  of  an  oppressed  people,  compelled  to  choose  between 
liberty  and  slavery,  must  be  obeyed."  Under  these  noble  and  self  sac- 
rificing  views  and  feelings,  Montgomery  accepted  the  commission  ten- 
dered  to  him  ;  and  from  that  hour  to  the  moment  of  his  death,  the  whole 
force  of  his  mind  and  body  was  devoted  to  the  honor  and  interest  of  hi» 
adopted  country.  The  gloiy  and  fate  of  Wolfe,  his  former  commander 
wore  present  to  his  thoughts ;  and  to  his  young  wife  his  parting  worda 
wor^  "  You  shall  never  blush  for  your  Montgomery.'* 


M 


CAPTAIN  RKMEMBER  BiKER.  gOl 

at"  itr'  "'"'  '''^'"^  -P"'-"  '"e  --iiants  with 
In  elu«  enterpHW,  Captain  Remember  BaKer  lo«t  hi, 

-nil  :::;c~  ;^h  ^""'-"^- '^ 

to  the  arL  wul  the"    H    '  ."n     '"'*''"  "'«''■  ^^  "'''* 
^en  at  the'e^:'a  :7:;::^r  ffl3?rf/^ 

came  a  r  sicllnt  of  h^'^      ?  ''^'"™'  ^'"""'''-    H«  "e- 
wherete  It  „„ee  b       ''"•"""P^'"-  G'-ants  in  17S4, 

As  an  officer  and  soldi  ttrrndT""'"  ^T 
council,  but  resolute  and  detrnin^i  .  *'''''"' '" 
of  his  plans      A«  .      .  '"^"'"'"''co  ,n  the  execution 

his  kindness  afd  h        '        ^"  ""  distinguished  for 

families  .llXtsrri;''^  '^'^  ''^^  "^  "^"^ 
AtlBle  AuxNo  rsT   >   ^    g'='>«'-«"sly  relieved. 

dered  him  unfit  for  !^"°  T""''"'  ■'"  ''<^^'«'  -■"■ 
deroga  leav^f  i  '' ""''  ''^ '''"^«<'  '»  Ticon- 

speaks  thusofThriLrVel^rr  ITT  "^ 
^J^obHgationsIlieundertoreneratrn;   — 

del  an/  n^"?'  """"  ^^  ""^  "»-  -d  Ja  " 
u"«»,  ana  m  wnicii     .-  has  ha^  i,**.*.!         •  .  '"' 

flas  Had  little  assistance  from 


8r<2 


ETHAN  ALLBN  AND  OREEN-MOUNTii  FN  HEUOKB. 


fifl 


1 

^^^^B 

1 

'1 . 

Kf 

1 

.-.  V 

ft  V  !'"™  ""'  ""J"-™''  "■  """"""t's  hcaltl,  since  I 
'  ,  '•""/'•'"'•go.  and  am  now  eo  low  as  not  to  be  able 
to  bold  the  pen.  Should  we  not  be  able  to  do  any  thin. 
clee,s.vely  in  Canada,  I  ahall  jndgo  it  beat  to  move  from 
h.8  place,  which  i«  a  very  wot  and  nnhealthy  part  of 
the  country;  unles,  I  receive  your  orders  to  the 
contrary.  " 

Colonel  Allen,  the  hero  of  Ticonderoga,  had  a  com- 
mand  under  Montgomery.    Having  been  dispatched, 
wth  Major  Brown,  into  the  interior  of  Canada,  he  was 
on  h.8  return,  persuaded  by  the  latter  to  undertake  the 
rash   project  of  attacking  Montreal.     He  divided  his 
detachment,  consisting  of  less  than  three  hundred  men, 
-nto  two  parties,  intending  to  assail  the  city  at  opposite 
pomts.    Major  Brown  was  prevented  from  executing 
lus  part  of  the  enterprise.    Colonel  Allen  and   hit 
Bmall  party,  opposed  by  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy 
under  Governor  Carleton,  fought  with  desperate  valor. 
Many  were   killed;    the  survivors,    overpowered    by 
numbers,  were  co.npelled  to  surrender.    The  governor 
v.ew,ng  Allen,  not  as  the  intrepid  soldier,  but  as  a  fac 
tious  rebel,  loaded  him  with  irons   and  sent  him  to 
J^ngland  tor  trial.    Carleton  afterward  admitted   that 
f  Brown  had  not  failed  to  join  Allen,  Montreal  would 
have  fallen  into  their  hands. 

Montgomery  remained  at  Isle  Anx  Noix  only  long 
e«o.ghto  receive  a  reinforcement  of  men  and  a  few 
p.eces  of  artillery.  He  then  re-embarked,  again  landed 
at  M.  John  s  and  commenced  operations  for  its  invest- 
ment. On  the  18th  of  September,  be  marched  with  a 
party  ox  five  hundred  men  to  the  north  of  the  fort! 
where  he  met  a  considerable  portion  of  the  garrison 


DISSATISFAOrrON   AMONO   THE  T«0.»>«.  goS 

«nd  drawn  under  tl,e  guns  ofU.e  forT   Z       'T""^ 

were  less  expert  in  fLJtiZThJ  f""''' 

too  many  of  them  l>un«  ba  k     n',     "T""^'  """^ 

«"ence,  we  should  have  fakent  field        '  ''''"  """« 
M,  r,f  ^  neJd-piece  or  two  " 

Jo^'T^TV^'^'""'"'""'^  '0  P"«h  the  siege"  f  St 

^  w,  h  a  duch,  and  a  garrison  of  three  hundred  men 
But  he  was  surrounded  with  difficulties      hI      !-T 
lery  was  so  light  as  to  makeIitM»  •  "'''" 

walls   anrf   flf«       :.,,'"'"''' ™P'''^8sion  upon  the 
walls,  and  the   artillerists  were  raw  and  nnskillfnl 
Besides   his  ammunition  was  almost  exhausted     5 

lerists.     ro  all  these  was  added  another  difficulty  far 
greater  than  the  rest,_his  men,  through  eonstanli 
posure  to  a  damp  soil  and  unhealthy  cLate^and  un-' 
used  to  the  rules  of  war,  had  become  insubordLt 
and  even  mutinous ;  and  the  circumstances  in  wh    h 
the  commander  was  placed,  eftectually  prevented  him 
from  eniorcng  discipline.    This  feeling  was  openly 
exhibited  in  an  attempt  of  the  general  to  remov'e  thi 
seat  of  his  active  op:  .ations  to  the  north  side  of  the 
town:  and  Rnr>QlrMKi«x^„-„ -._  .1  " 

.-  -  j.„...  .01,.  Were  ita  uemonstrations,  that  he 


t* 


iM   h 


1; 


trr 


n";    ! 


«04 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOUJ^TAIN  HEROES. 


was  forced  to  compromise  with  professional  dignitj 
and  submit  his  opinion  to  that  of  a  board  of  officers' 
Thej  refused  to  accede  to  his  plan,  and  it  was  for  a 
time  abandoned.  Subsequently,  however,  their  consent 
was  obtained,  and  a  position  taken  to  the  north-west 
of  the  fort. 

Meanwhile  an  event  took  place,  as  fortunate  as  it 
was  unexpected,  tlie  success  of  which,  decided  the  fate 
of  the  garrison.    A  gentleman  from  JSTew  York  named 
James  Livingston,  had  resided  for  a  considerable  time 
in  Canada,  and   by  a  propec  course  of  conduct  had 
won  the  esteem  of  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants 
As  he  was  known  to  be  favorable  to  the  cause  of  liberty 
Montgomery  determined  to  employ  his  popularity  in 
service  to  himself    Accordingly,  at  the  instigation  of 
the  general,  he  organized  a  number  of  the  inhabitants 
into  an  armed  corps,  promising  the  protection  of  con- 
gress to  all  their  movements.    In  company  with  Major 
Brown,  he    speedily  made  himself  master  of  Fort 
Chambly,  including  all  the  garrison,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-six  barrels  of  gunpowder,  and  a  large  amount 
ot  military  and  other  stores. 

Colonel  Seth  Warner  and  his  regiment  were  with 
Montgomery  at  the  siege  of  St.  John's,  although  it  is 
evident  that  both  Warren  and  the  officers  of  his  res 
iment  were  without  commissions,  for  we  find  by  Mont- 
gomery's orderly  book,  that  on  the  16th  of  September 
he  issued  an  order  appointing  Seth  Warner  colonel  of 
a  regiment  of  Green-Mountain  Rangers,  requiring  that 
he  should  be  obeyed  as  such.    Probably  the  provincial 
congress  of  New  York  withheld  the  commissions  on 
the  same  grounds  on  which,  in  the  following  year  tb^y 


s 


COLOKEL  WABKEK's  EEGIMBNT.  305 

performed  as  important  services,  as  any  other  re^ment 

;»ppf:ii^on"a:ts;i^^^^^ 

ture  of  Chamhlv  tv,o^    i  •       ^       ''^  scores,  by  the  cap- 
'  ^aambij,  made  his  advances  upon  the  ihrt  ff 

defense.     Carleton  exei^d  ^itelf  r t "  ""'"'^ 
bntsnehwasthe  disaffection  ofthCL.      '""^''' 

-^  canals  i"?„r^-5;-tt-^on. 
proposed  to  cross  thp  «?f  t  ^  ^*^^^®  ^^® 

McLn,  whord  er:d':r  ritcot'r ' 

■grants,  and  taken  post  at  the  month  of  1  T  ,*""" 
toping,  with  their  united  forces  to  tahw  """' 
-ge  of  St.  John's,  and  re,i  ^Ih    t^^'  '^  '^« 

covered  b/coi^wlef^rte";^^ 
who,  with  about  three  hundred  Len.^lT  «  ™' 
w.ched  their      ,o„,a„dpreparerf:r^^^^^^^^^^ 
Ji'St  before   they  reached   the  south  shore    Wo       ' 
opened  upon  them  a  well-directed  fire    .Z  i  J;™: 

assault,  the  enemy  were  thrown  into  the  utm„..  L.I 
«on,  and   retreated  with  precipitation  and 'dis^dZ 


■!! 


506 


I 


t  I 


m  I 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  QEEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEfiOES. 


When  the  news  of  Carleton'a  defeat  reachc     McLean, 
he  abandoned  his  position  at  the  mouth  of  the  Riche- 
lieu,  and  hastened  to  Quebec.     By  these  events,  the 
garrison  at  St.  John's  was  left  without  the  hope  of  relief 
and  Major  Preston,  the  commander,  was  consequently' 
obhged  to  surrender.     The  garrison  laid   down  their 
arms  on  the  3d  of  November,  and  became  prisoners  of 
war,  to  the  number  of  five  hundred  regulars,  and  more 
thm  one  hundred   Canadian  volunteers.     In  the  Ibrt 
were  found  a  number  of  cannon  and  a  large  quantity 
of  mill  ary  stores.     Colonel  Warner  having  repulsed 
General   Carleton,  and   caused   McLean   to  retire  to 
Quebec,  the  Americans  proceeded  to  erect  a  battery  at 
the  m^uth  of  the  Eichelieu,  to  command  the  passage 
01  the  S  .  Lawrence,  and  blockade  General  Carleton  in 
Montreal.    In  this  situation  of  things,  Montgomery  ar- 
rived from  St.  John's,  and  took  possession  of  Montreal 
without  opposition.  General  Carleton  having  abandoned 
It  to  Its  fate,  and  escaped  down  the  river  in  the  night 
in  a  small  canoe  with  muffled  oars.     A  large  number 
of  armed  vessels,  loaded  with  provisions  and  militarv 
stores,  and  General  Prescott,  with  one  hundred  officer; 
and  privates,  also  attempted  to  pass  down  the  river 
but  they  were  all  captured  at  the  mouth  of  the  Riche' 
heu,  without  the  loss  of  a  man.    Warner's  regiment 
having  served  a^  volunteers,  and  the  men  being  too 
miserably  clothed  to  endure  a  winter  campaign  in  that 
severe  climate,  on  the  20th  of  November  Montcromery 
discharged  them,  with  peculiar  marks  of  respel^t,  and 
his  thanks  for  their  meritorious  services. 

While  Montgomery  was  engaged   in  the  reduction 
of   Chambly,  St.  John's,  and    Montreal,   the    army 


j  ( 


ARNOLD   BEFORE   QUEBEC. 


307 


d  stined  to  meet  him  before  Quebec  was  passing  through 
the   dreary  wilderness  lying  between  the  province  of 
Maine  and  the  the  St.  Lawrence.    This  extraordinary 
and  most  arduous  enterprise  had  been  committed  to 
Colonel  Arnold,  who,  with  one  thousand  one  hundred 
men,  consisting  of  New-England   infantry,  some  vol 
unteers,  a  company  of  artillery,  and  three  companies 
ot  riflemen,  commenced   hie  march  on  the  13th  Sep 
tember.     It  is  almost  impossible  to  conceive  the  labor 
hardships,    and    difficulties   which     this    detachment 
had  to  encounter  in  their  progress  up  the  rapid  stream 
01  the  Kennebec,  frequently  interrupted  by  falls,  where 
they  were  obliged  to  land  and  carry  the  boats  upon 
their  shoulders,  until  they  surmounted  them,  through  a   " 
country  wholly  uninhabited,  with  a  scanty  supply  of 
provisions,  the  season   cold  and  rainy,  and  the  men 
daily  dropping  down  with  fatigue,  sickness  and  hunger 
Arnold  was  indefatigable  in  his  endeavors  to  alleviate 
the  distress  of  his  men,  but  to  procure  provisions  for 
them  was  out  of  his  power.    They  were  at  one  time 
reduced  to  so  great  an  extremity  of  hunger,  that  the 
dogs  belonging  to  the  army  were  killed  and  eaten,  and 
many  of  the  soldiers  devoured  their  leather  cartouch- 
boxes  !     Arnold   and   his  party  at  length   arrived  at 
i-oint  Levi,  opposite  the  town  of  Quebec ;  but  in  con- 
sequence of  information  the  British  had  received   by 
the  treachery  of  fclie  Indian  to  whom  Arnold  intrusted 
a  letter  to  General  Schuyler,  the  boats  which  he  ex 
pected  to  find  there  to  transport  his  troops  across  the 
nver  had  been  removed,  and  the  enemy  were  no  longer 
m  a  state  to  be  surprised.    Arnold,  however,  was  not 
to  be  deterred  from  attempting  something  against  the 


308 


KTnAN  ALLEN  AN15  GRKEN-MOtTNTAm  HEROES. 


il' 


town- he   calculated  strongly  upon  the  defection  of 
the  inhabitants ;    and  having  supplied  himself  with 
canoes,  he  crossed  the  river  in  the  night,  and  gained 
possession  of  the  heights  of  Abraham.    Here,  though 
he  had  no  artillery,  and  scarcely  half  the  number  of 
men  that  composed  the  garrison  of  the  town,  he  made 
a  bold  experiment  to  try  the  loyalty  of  the  enemy's 
troops  by  sending  a  flag  to  summon  them  to  surren- 
der.   But  no  message  would  be  admitted,  and  Arnold 
found  himself  compelled  to  retire  to  more  comfortable 
quarters,  where  he   awaited   the  arrival   of  Genera] 
-IVlontgomery. 

.       Genera;  Carleton,  who,  it  has  already  been  stated,  ar- 
nved  at  Quebec,  had  taken  the  beet  measures  for  its 
defense,  and  was  prepared  to  receive  hir      In  a  few 
days,  the  American  general  opened  a  six-gun  battery 
within  about  seven  hundred  yards  of  the  walls  ;  but 
h.s  artillery  was  too  light  to  make  a  breach,  and  he 
could  do  nothing  more  than  to  amuse  the  enemy,  and 
conceal  h.s  real  purpose.    After  continuing  the  siege 
nearly  a  month,  he  resolved  on  a  desperate  attempt  to 
carry  the  place  by  escalade.    To  distract  the  garrison 
two  feigned  attacks  were  made  on  the  upper  town  by 
two  divisions  of  the  army  under  Majors  Brown  and 
Livingston,  while  two  real  attacks  on  opposite  sides  of 
the  lower  town  were  made  by  two  other  divisions  under 
Montgomery  and  Arnold.    Early  in   the  morning  of 
the  last  day  in  the  year,  the  signal  was  given,  and  the 
several  divisions  moved  to  the  assault  in  the  midst  of 
a  heavy  fall  of  snow,  which  covered  the  assailants 

hZ    fTt  V^'  "'''"^-     M^-fg^-^ery,  at  the 
head  of  the  New-Tork  troops,  advanced  along  the  St 


DEATH   OF   MONTGOMERY.  309 

Lawrence  by  Annce  de  Mere,  under  Cape  Diamond, 
ihe  first  barrier  to  be  surmounted  on  that  side  was  de- 
tended  by  a  battery,  in  which  were  mounted  a  few 
P.ece8  01  artillery,  in  front  of  which  were  a  block-house 
and  picket     The  guard  at  the  block-house,  after  giving 
a  random  fire,  threw  away  their  arms  and  fled  to  the 
barner,  and  for  a  time  the  battery  itself  was  deserted. 
Enormous   pdes  of  ice  ■:  ,  ,dcd   the  progress  of  the 
Americans,  who,  pressing  forward  in  a  narrow  defile 
reached  at  length  the  block-house  and  picket.    Mont-' 
gomery,  who  was  in  front,  assisted  in  cutting  down  or 
pallmg  up  the  pickets,  and  advanced  boldly  and  rap- 
Klly  at  the  head  of  about  two  hundred  men,  to  force 
tl,e  barrier.    At  this  time  one  or  two  persons  had  ven- 
t..red   to  return  to  the  battery,  and,  seizing  a  slow 
match,  discharged  one  of  the  guns.    Casual  as  this  fire 
appeared,  It  was  fatal  to  General  Montgomery  and  to 
two  valuable  young  officers  near  his  person,  who,  to- 
ge  her  with  his  orderly  sergeant  and  a  private,  ^ere 
killed  on  the  spot.    Colonel  Campbell,  on  whom  the 
command  devolved,  precipitately  retired  with  the  re- 
mainder of  the  division.    Thus  fell  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  accomplished  generals  that  ever  led  an  army 
to  he  field.    But  he  was  not  more  illustrious  for  his 
skill  and  courage  as  an  ofiicer,  than  he  was  estimable 
for  his  private  virtues.    All  enmity  to  him,  on  the  part 
of  the  British,  ceased  with  his  life,  and  respect  for  his 
private  character  prevailed  over  all  other  considera- 
hons.    When  the  corpse  of  Montgomery  was  shown  to 
Carleton,  the  heart  of  that  noble  ofiicer  melted.    They 
had  served  in  the  same  regiment  under  Wolte,  and  tho 
-     ...,.,.aij  xc.auoii  existed  between  them,throughont 


rM 


fri 


r 


^ii 


'tn 


p:'\ 


.1. 


310       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEK0E8. 

tiie    whole    French    war.      The    Lieutenant-governor 
of  Quebec,   Mr.  Cramche,  ordered  him  a  coffin,  and 
friends  and  enemies  united  in  expressions  of  sorrow,  as 
his  remains  were  conducted  to  their  final  resting-place. 
At  his  death.  General  Montgomery  was  in  the  first 
month  of  his   thirtj-ninth  year.     He  was  a  man  of 
great    military  talents,   whose   measures   were  taken 
with  judgment  and  executed  with  vigor.    He  shared 
all  the  hardships  of  his  troops,  and  though  they  had 
been  unused   to  discipline,  and   many  of  them  were 
jealous  of  their  commander,  he  prevented  their  com- 
plaints by  timely  measures,  and  inspired   them  with 
his  own  enthusiasm.     His   industry  could  not  be  wea- 
ried, his  vigilance  imposed  upon,  nor  his  courage  intim- 
idated.   Above  the  pride  of  opinion,  when  a  measure 
was  adopted  by  the  majority,  he  gave  it  his  full   sup- 
port, even  though  contrary  to  his  own  judgment. 

Few  men  have  ever  fallen  in  battle  so  much  regret- 
ted on  both  sides  as  General  Montgomery.     His  many 
amiable  qualities    had   procured   him  an  uncommon 
share  of  private  afiection,  and  his  great  abilities  an 
equal  proportion  of  public  esteem.     Being  a  sincere 
lover  of  liberty,  he  had  engaged  in  the  American  cause 
from  principle,  and  quitted  the  enjoyment  of  an  easy 
fortune,  and  the  highest  domestic  felicity,  to  take  an 
active  share  in  the  fatigues  and  dangers  of  a  M^ar  in- 
stituted for  the  defense  of  the  community  of  which  he 
was  an  adopted  member.     His  well-known  character 
was  almost  equally  esteemed  by  the  friends  and  foes 
of  the  side  which  he  had  espoused.    In  America  he  was 
celebrated  as  a  martyr  to  the  liberties  of  mankind  ;  in 
Great  Britain,  as  a  misguided  man,  sacrificing  himself 


CnARACTKK   OF  MONTOOMEET.  J^J 

to  What  he  supposed  to  be  .he  rights  of  his  country 

whoh  a ,  ,,  ,Xw:£s int ;Lrr 

expatiated  on  his  many  virtues.    The  „>inister  himlelf 

tor  which  he  fell.  He  concluded  an  involuntary  m„ 
egync  by  saying,  "Curse  on  his  virtues,  they  have  1 
^one  his  country."  •'  ™' 

"In  this  brief  story  of  a  short  and  useful  lite  "  says 
Sd  allThr,""'  "  ''^  "'''""''•  0^  ^-«g°4,  "we 

-JeeplesInigC^rar;:;   rc3^^^^^ 
weather   and   every  variation  of  cliin'ate.'     T  "th" 
eoTioreal  advantages  was  added  a  mind,  cool  discriT 
.na  .ng,  energetic  and  fearless;  thoroug  ly  acoual Ld 

so   ncr:f  th  'd""'  ""r'™"'^'  -thf  liLatl 'and 
sciences  of  the  day,  and  habitually  directed  by  a  hish 

tuted  should  have  won  'the  golden  opinions '  of  friends 

of  htBrr'T''™"''"^'-^*    T^-osteloqueutmen 
of  the  Bntish  senate  became  his  panegyrists  ;  and  the 

and  directed  .  „„„„„.„.  tot  "to  11"  ''  f  ''""'™''°'' 

oxnressive  of  their  vp„„,.-       ,    !"^  *" '"«  ■°"°»'.''.  '"'h  »»  inscription 

-''U.  "I  7°™"m  fcr  h,8  eharaclor.  and  of  Ih.lr  d„„  .„.,. 

^"    -y.s*,..  a.d  i.„o,.a^t  «rvic«:  .„d  to  ..n,™.  to  fl"; 


'tilS 


812      KTiiAJj  axtj:n  and  grken-mountain  heroes. 

American  congress  hastened  to  testify  for  him  'thei* 
griitet'ul  reniembranco,  profound  respect,  and  high 
veneration.' " 

On  tlie  fall  of  Montgomery,  Colonel  Campbbll,  thb 
second  in  command,  ordered  a  retreat,  although,  if  ho 
Lad  pushed  bravely  forward,  the  city  would  have  in- 
evitably fallen  into  his  hands.     In  the   mean  time, 

ages,  as  an  example  worthy  of  imitation,  his  patriotism,  conduct,  bold- 
ness of  enterprise,  insuperable  perseverance,  and  contempt  of  danger  and 
death."  A  monument  of  white  marble,  with  appropriate  embleTnatio 
di  vicis,  was  accordingly  erected  to  his  memory,  in  front  of  St  Paul'k 
church  in  New  York,  with  the  following  inscription  : 

THIS 

monument  is  erected  by  order  of  Congress 

25th  January,  1776, 
to  transmit  to  posterity  a  grateful  remem- 
brance of  the  patriotic  conduct,  enterprise  and  perseTenince 
of  Major-general  Richard  Montgomkev, 
who,  after  a  scries  of  success  amid  the  most  discour- 
aging difficulties,  Fell  in  the  attack  on 
Quebec,  31st  December,  1775,  aged  37  years. 

The  widow  (,  Montgomery  survived  him  more  tlian  half  a  centnty, 
maintaining  the  dignified  position  of  a  wife  who  carries  with  her  to 
the  tomb  a  name  illustrious  and  venerated  by  an  entire  nation.  Left  a 
widow  when  still  yomig,  she  wore  for  upward  of  forty  years  her  mouriv- 
ing  for  her  soldier,—  (it  was  thus  she  always  named  him)  —and  threw 
oft"  that  attire  of  gloom  only  on  the  eve  of  the  day  on  which,  from  the 
same  abode  from  which  she  had  last  beheld  him  at  his  parting  from  her, 
full  of  life  and  hope,  she  saw  passing  before  her  on  the  Hudson,  a  steamer 
which  bore  on  its  deck,  overehadowed  by  twenty  star-spangled  banners, 
the  mortal  remains  of  her  husband.  In  1818,  De  Witt  Clinton,  then 
govornor  of  New  York,  believed  that  the  moment  had  arrived  to  accom- 
plish a  great  act  of  national  gratitude.  The  British  government  eymf»- 
thized  generously  with  the  noble  idoa.  The  remains  of  the  glorious 
Moi.tgomery,  found  undisturbed  in  the  tomb  where  they  had  been  laid 
forty-two  yeare  before  by  the  English  soldiers,  were  delivered  oT«r  by 
the  governor  of  Canada  to  the  American  veterans  commissioned  to  re- 
ceive them.  Transported  with  a  religious  pomp  to  New  York,  they 
were  depoHitesl  ir  the  cenotaph  that  had  been  erected  in  St  T&uV* 
church-yard  to  tlio  warrior's  memt»ry. 


FINAL   RKPULST5   AT   QtTKBKO.  313 

<  'oIoDel  Arnold,  at  the  head  of  about  three  hundred 
and  fifty  men,  made  a  desper    e  attack  on  the  oppo- 
site Bide.     Advancing   with   the   utmost   intrepidity 
through  a  narrow  path,  exposed  to  an  incessant  fire 
of  grape-shot  and  musketry,  as  he  approached  the  first 
barrier,  he  received  a  musket-ball  in  the  leg,  which 
shattered  the  bone,  and  he  was  carried  off  to  the  camp. 
Captain  Morgan,  who  commanded  a  company  of  Vir- 
ginia riflemen,  rushed  forward  to  the  batteries  at  their 
head    and  received  a  discharge  of  grape-shot,  which 
killed  one  man  only.    A  few  rifles  were  immed'ately 
ftred   into    the  embrasures,    and    the  barricade  was 
mounted  ;  the  battery  was  instantljf  deserted,  but  the 
captain  of  the  guard,  with  the  greater  part  of  his  men, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.     Morgan  formed 
his  men,  but  from  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  total 
Ignorance  of  the  situation  of  the  town,  it  was  judged 
imadvisable  to  proceed.    He  was  soon  joined  by  Lieu- 
tenaht-colonel  Green  and  Majors  Bigelow  and  Meigs, 
with  several  fragments  of  companies,  amounting  col- 
lectively  to  about  two  hundred  men.    At  daylight  this 
gallant  party  was  again  formed,  and  a  most  bloody 
and    dangerous  engagement   ensued.     Many  of  th« 
«nemy  were  killed,  but  more  Americans,  who  were  ex- 
posed to  a  destructive  fire  of  musketry  from  the  win- 
dows of  the  houses.  Some  of  the  most  daring  mounted 
the  wall,  but,  seeing,  on  the  other  side,  two  ranks  of 
soldiers,  with  their  muskets  on  the  ground,  presenting 
hedges  of  bayonets  to  receive  them  should  they  leap 
forward,  they  recoiled  and  deccended.    Wearv  with 
'exertion,  and  benumbed  with  cold;  exposed  to  a  deadly 
bi-e  from  every  quarter ;  their  arms  rendered  nselesa 


I 


314        ETHAN  AIJ-EN  A;^D  GREEN-MOnNTAIN  REROKH. 

bj  the  snow  which  continued  to  tall,  the  soldiers  songlit 
refuge  in  the  houses.  Perceiving  that  all  further  at- 
tempts would  be  vain,  Morgan  gave  the  signal  to  re- 
treat. Some  of  the  men  fled,  but  most  were  unwilling 
to  encounter  another  tempest  of  shot.  They  refused, 
however,  to  yield,  until  assu-ed  of  the  fate  of  Mont- 
gomery; when,  losing  all  hope  of  success  and  escape, 
they  surrendered  themselves  prisoners  of  war. 

Some  of  the  Americans,  on  their  escape  from  Que- 
bec, retreated  precipitately  to  Montreal.    Arnold,  with 
difficulty,  detained  four  hundred,  who,"  breaking  up 
their  camp,  retired  three  miles  from  the  city.     Here 
this  heroic  band,  tfiough  much  inferior  in  number  to  the 
garrison,  kept  it  in  continual  awe,  and,  by  preventing 
dll  communication  with  the  country,  reduced  it  to  great 
distress  for  the  want  of  provisions.     Congress,  on  re- 
ceiving information  of  the  disaster  of  the  Slst  of  De- 
cember, directed  reinforcements  to  be  sent  to  Canada  ; 
and  after  the  beginning  of  March,  Arnold's  party  was 
almost  daily  augmented  by  the  arrival  of  small  bodies 
of  troops.     But  its  strength  did  not  increase  with  its 
numbers.    The  small-pox  still  continued  its  ravages; 
fatigue,  without   hope,    depressed  the   spirits  of  the 
soldiers  ;  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  provisions  became 
every  day  greater;  and  the  har^h  iipeasures  adopted  by 
Arnold  to  procure  them,  exasperated  the  inhabitants 
around  him. 

Oii  the  first  of  May,  General  Thomas,  who  had  been 
appointed  to  succeed  Montgomery,  arrived  from  the 
camp  at  Eoxbury.  On  reviewing  his  army,  he  found 
It  to  consist  of  less  than  two  tbowiand  men,  of  whom 
half  wero  not  fit  for  duty.     A  council  of  war  was  held. 


COLONEL   8ETH    WARNEK. 


815 


who  resolved  that  it  was  expedient  to  take  a  more  d^ 
fensible  position  higher  up  the  St.  Lawrence.    To  this 
decision  they  were  led  by  the  knowledge  that  the  ice 
was  leaving  the  river,  and  by  the  expectation  that 
reinlorceraents  from  England  would  immediately  come 
up.    The  next  morning,  in  fact,  while  the  Americans 
were  engaged  in  removing  the  sick,  several  ships  ap- 
peared  m  sight,  and  entered  the  harbor.    A  multitude 
ot  troops  were  immediately  poured  into  the  city     At 
one  o'clock,  Carleton  made  a  sortie  at  the  head  of  a 
thousand  men.  Against  these  General  Thomas,  at  that 
moment,  could   oppose  but  three  hundred.    All  the 
stores,  and  many  of  the  sick,  fell  into  the  power  of  the 
enemy.     The   latter  were   treated,  by  the  governor, 
with  great  tenderness ;  and  when  restored  to  health 
were  assisted  to  return  to  their  homes.    The  American  J 
retreated  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sorel,  where  thev  were 
jomed  by  several  regiments,  and  where  their  worthy 
commander  died  of  the  small-pox,  which  yet  prevailed 
in  the  camp. 

After  the  capture  of  Montreal,  Colonel  Seth  Warner 
had  returned  with  his  regiment  to  the  New-Hampshire 
Grants;  but  instead  of  enjoying  a  respite  from  the 
fatigues   and    hardships  of  a   campaign  during   the 
winter,  he  was  called  on  to  return  to  Canada.    Al- 
though he  was  not  in  commission,  and  had  no  troops 
under  his  command,  yet.  General  Wooster,  who  knew 
him  well,  did  not  scruple  to  write,  requesting  him  to 
raise  a  body  of  men,  and  march  into  Canada,  in  the 
middle  of  winter.    The  letter  is  dated  at  Montreal 
January  6th,  1776.    After  giving  a  general  account  of 
the  defeat  at  Quebec,  General  Wooster  says  :  "  I  hare 


.1 


I 


1' 


ikl 


H|i  jijj  I 


I  !•  ■ 


r  i 


i'. 


ni't 


V  I 


ii    I 


I 


\    I 


I 

I 

316       STUAN  AJ.LEN  AND  OUKKNMOUNTAIN  HKR0K8. 

sent  an  express  to  General  Schujlor,  to  Washington, 
and  to  congress,  but  you  know  how  very  long  it  will 
be  bofore  we  can  have  relief  from  theiu.     You,  sir,  and 
your  valiant  Green-Mountain  IJoys,  are  in  our  neigh- 
borhood ;  you  all  have  arms,  and  I  am  conlident  ever 
stand  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  your  brethren 
in  difttress;  therefore,  let  me  beg  of  you  to  raise  as  many 
men  as  you  can,  and  have  them  in  Canada,  with  the 
least  possible  delay,  to  remain  till  we  can  have  relief 
from  the  Colonies.     You  will  see  that  proper  oflicer** 
are  appointed  under  you,  and  the  officers  and  privates 
will  have  the  same  pay  as  the  continental  troops.     It 
will  be  tor  yonr  men  to  start  as  soon  as  they  can  be 
collected.    No  matter  whether  they  all  march  together, 
but  let  them  come  on  by  tens,  twenties,  thirties,  for- 
ties, or  fifties,  as  fast  as  they  can  be  prepared  to  march. 
It  will  have  a  good  efiect  upon  the  minds  of  the  Cana- 
dians, to  see  succor  coming  in.     You  will  be  gowl 
enough  to  send  copies  of  this  letter,  or  such  parts  of 
it  as  you  shall  judge  proper,  to  the  people  below  you. 
I  can  but  hope  the  people  will  make  a  push  to  get 
into  this  country,  and  I  am  confident  I  shall  see  you 
here,  with  your  men,  in  a  very  short  time. "  And  Gen- 
eral Wooster  was  not  disappointed.    He  did  see  War- 
ner in  Canada,  with  his  men,  in  a  very-shoj-t  time. 
Probably  no  revolutionary  patriot,  during  the  war, 
performed  a  service  evincing  more  energy,  resolution, 
and  perseverance,  or  a  more  noble  patriotism,  than 
the    raising    of  a    regiment    in    eleven    days,    and 
marching  to  Quebec  in  the  face  of  a  Canadian  winter. 
Warner  had  advantages  in  the  performance  of  this 
service  which  no  other  man  possessed.    The  Green- 


COLONEL  8BTH    WAltNEE. 


31T 


Mountain  Boys  had  long  been  armed  in  their  own 
defense  against  tlie  government  of  New  York,  and  l.o 
Imd  been  tlieir  chosen  leader.    They  had  become  liabit- 
uat«d  to  turn  out  at  his  call,  i.,        ilow  his  lead.    And 
aa  they  had  been  successful  in  every  enterprise,  they 
had   the  most  unlimited  confidence  in  hie  judgment, 
his  vigilance,  his  prudence  and  his  unflinching  ccmrage. 
Besides,  they  loved  him  for  his  moral  and  social  quuli. 
ties.    He  sympathized  with  all  classes,  which  rendered 
him  affable  and  familiar  with  them,  and  as  this  di^^  not 
arise  from  any  mean  or  selfish  motive,  but  from  tho 
interest  which  he  felt  in  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-men, 
he  ever  maintained  a  self-respect  and  a  dignified  de- 
portment   Add  to  this,  that  the  Green-Mountain  Boys 
were  zealous  and  active  whigs,  and  it  is  no  lonoor 
incredible  that  they  turned  out  with  such  alacrity^'at 
the  call  of  Warner,  in  defense  of  their  country.    This 
winter  campaign  in  Canada  proved  extremely  distress- 
ing.   The  troops  were  in  .vant  of  comfortable  clotliinrr, 
barracks,  and   provisions.     The  American  army^  In 
their  distressed  situation,  were  compelled  to  make  a 
hasty  retreat.    Warner  took  a  position  exposed  to  tho 
greatest  danger,  and  requiring  tho  utmost  care  and 
vigilance.    He  was  alwaysin  the  rear,  picking  up  tho 
wounded  and  diseased,  assisting  and  encouraging  those 
least  able  to  take  care  of  themselves,  and  generally 
kept  but  a  few  miles  in  advance  of  the  British,  who 
closely  pursued  the  Americans  from  post  to  post.    ]]y 
calmly  and  steadily  pursuing  this  course,  with  his 
habitual  vigilance  and  care,  Warner  brought  off  uiost 
of  the  invalids,  and  with  this  corps  of  the  diseased  and 
infirm,  arrived   at  Ticonderoga  a  few  days  after  the 


i 


1% 


J    < 


lUh 


318 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GEEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


main  army  had  reached   that  fortress.*    Thus  termi- 
nated  the  expedition  against  Canada.    In  its  concep- 
tion  it  was  singularly   bold   and  romantic.     In  its 
progress  were  displayed  fortitude  and  bravery  seldom 
equaled  in  military  annals.    Its  failure  was  a  painful 
disappomtment  to  the  patriots  of  the  day.    It  is  now 
consoling  to  reflect,  that  successes  would  probably  have 
proved   injurious  to  the  cause  of  independence.     To 
protect  the  province,  the  military  force  of  the  confed- 
eracy must  have  been  too  much  extended,  and  colonies 
more  important  have  been  left  defenseless. 

In  June,  1776,  General  Gatesf  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  army  at  Crown  Point.  He  entered 
upon  the  service  with  great  energy.  In  addition  to 
the  labor  and  expense  of  putting  Ticonderoga  into  a 
proper  situation  for  defense,  another  object  of  great 
importance  engaged  their  attention  at  the  same  time  • 
It  was  equally  necessary  to  preserve  the  command  of 

*  See  Life  of  Warner,  by  Hon.  Daniel  Chipman. 

t  Horatio  Gates  was  born  in  England,  in  1728.    He  early  embraced 
the  career  of  arms,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of  major  by  the  force  of  merit 
alone.    He  was  an  officer  under  the  unfortunate  Braddock,  in  the  exoe- 
difion  against  Fort  Du  Quesne,  in   tie  year  1755,  and  was.  with  the 
lUustnous  Washington,  among  the  few  officers  who  escaped  with  life  on 
the  memorable  occasion.    In  consequence  of  a  severe  wound  which  he 
received  in  the  battle,  he  was  for  some  time  debarred  from  actual  service  • 
and   at  the  conclusion  of    the  peace,  he  retired  to  his  native  country' 
He  soon,  however,  returned,  and  purchased  an   estate  in  Virginia  on 
which  he  resided   until  the  commencement  of  the  revolutionary  war 
when  he  was  appointed  adjutant-general,  by  congress,  with  the  rank  of 
bngad^er.    In  July  1775,  he  accompanied  Washington   to  Massachusetts 
where  he  continued  until  he   received  the  chief  command  of  the  arm' 
which  had  just  returned  from  Canada. 


NAVAL  PREPARATIONS. 


319 


Lake  Ghamplain,  bj  the  construction  of  a  considerable 
naval   force.     In  the  prosecution  of  tlis  business,  the 
Americans  labored  with  uncommon  diligence  and  per- 
severance,  but  under  complicated   and  immense  diffi. 
culties.    Their  timber  was  to  be  cut  down  in  the  woods 
and  dragged  by  men  to  the  lake ;    much  of  their  ar- 
tillery, their  ammunition,  stores,  and   most  of  their 
materials  for  a  naval  equipment,  were  to  be  brought 
from  great  distances,  and  then  must  be  transported  by 
land-carriage,  over  roads  almost  impassable.    Carpen- 
ters and  ship-buiJders  were  fulljr  employed  in  the  sea- 
ports, in  fitting  out  privateers.    The  distance  and  diffi- 
culty of  the  communication  rendered  the  transportation 
of  bulky  articles  very  expensive  and  tedious  ;  and  sev- 
eral of  the  articles  which  were  wanted  were  not  to  be 
procured,  and  the  supply  of  others  was  greatly  deficient 
m  quantity  and  quality.  But  amidst  all  their  difficulties 
such  was  the  resolution,  industry  and  perseverance  of 
the  men,   that  by  the  middle  of  August,  they  had 
equipped  a  very  considerable  naval  force.    This  arma- 
ment was  manned  with  three  hundred  and  ninety-five 
men,  and  was  completely  fitted  for  action.    Consider- 
ing  the  state  of  the  country  at  that  time,  the  difficulties 
and  disadvantages  under  which  this  na-  al  force  had 
been  constructed,  it  is  surprising  how  so  much  could 
have  been  eflfected. 

Such,  however,  was  the  importance  to  the  designs 
of  the  English  of  obtaining  an  absolute  control  of  the 
lakes,  that  General  Carleton  set  himself  with  all  dili- 
gence to  the  equipment  of  a  fleet.  His  plan  was,  ac- 
cording to  the  instructions  of  the  ministry,  to  penetrate 
by  way  of  the  lake  to  the  Hudson  river,  and  thus  to 

14* 


;  I  J 


M  u 


ri  ^<tl 


)i  f . '' 


!U  Vt: 


iiill 


ii«^ 


320         ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEEOIS. 

effect  a  junction  with  the  army  of  New  York,  at  Al- 
bany.     By  the  execution  of  this  plan,  the  provinces  of 
New  England  would  have  found  themselves  separated 
from   the  others  by  a   powerful  and  victorious  army, 
and  the  cause  of  freedom  would  have  been  exposed  to 
the  most  imminent  perils.    Long  deliberated  upon  in  the 
councils  of  the  British  ministers,  it  was  their  favorite 
scheme.    And,  in  effect,  the  very  nature  of  the  places 
between  Canada  and  New  York,  appeared   to  favor 
this  enterprise.     With   the  exception  of  the   heights 
which  are  found  between  the  upper  extremity  of  Lake 
George  and   the  left  bank  of  the  Hudson,  and  which 
only  occupy  a  space  of  sixteen  miles,  the  entire  passage 
from  one  of  these  provinces  to  the  other,  could  easily  be 
made  by  water,  first  by  ascending  from  the  St.  Law- 
rence into  the  Sorel,  and   then  traversing  the  Lakes 
Champlain  and  George,  or  Wood  creek,  to  the  lands 
which  separate  it  from  the  Hudsoi      The  English  hav- 
ing an  immense  superiority  at  sea,  Canada  being  en- 
tirely in  their  power,  and  as  the  principal  seat  of  resist- 
ance was  found  in  the  provinces  of  New  England, 
while  the  coasts  of  New  York  were  peculiarly  acces- 
sible to  maritime  attacks,  it  cannot  be  denied  that  this 
plan  of  the  campaign  presented  great  advantages.   But 
the  difficulty  of  the  enterprise  was  equal  to  its  impor- 
tance.   It  was  requisite  to  construct,  or  at  least  to 
equip  a  fleet  of  thirty  vessels  of  different  dimensions, 
and  to  arm  t'lem  with  artillery  ;  the  want  of  materials 
rendered  either  of  these  objects  difficult  to  accomplish. 
The  transportation  afterward  in  certain  places  by  land 
and   drawing  up  the  rapids  of  Chambly,  of  thirty 
large  long-boats,  a  number  of  flat-bottomed  boats  of 


BRITISH   NAVAL  FORCE. 


32] 


considerable  burthen, with  .bovefour  hundred  bateaux 
was  an  operation  which  oflered  not  onl,  great  obstacle;' 
but  even  an  appearance  of  impossibility.  But  the 
Enghsh  seamen,  from  their  skill  and  paLnce  w  ! 
not  inumidated  by  it.  The  soldiers  seconded  the, 
ana  the  Canadians,  taken  from  their  rustic  labors  wo  o' 

ward  this  laborious  undertaking  on  account  of  tl,o 
lateness  of  the  season.    They  felt  all  th«  C     / 
of  n,<.  «„t„      •  .  •'  '"^  importance 

of  the  enterprise,  and  persuaded  themselves  that  if 
they  could  reach  Albany  before  winter,  thJu  ta 
Buccess  would   be  secured.    They  lab^ed,  th   2 
with  incredible  activity  ;  but  notwithstanding  all  th  iV 
efforts,  the  preparations  could  not  be  compfeted,  m 

■  to2Z:r77'^''''  '"^  -ddleof'the  month 
^October.  The  leet  would  have  made  no  contempti- 
Me  figure  even  upon  the  European  seas.  The  admiral's 
*.p  earned  eighteen  twelve  pounders,  and  was  folio  vd 
olLt:  ,  ^'='°'>"<''^«'«  0-  -«-ting  fourteen,  t  e 
S  hlTi  ™  ^'^■r"'^«™.  -i"'  «  large  flat-bottomod 
boat  having  six  twenty-four  and  six  twelve-poundcrs 
Twenty  vessels  of  less  size  carried  each  a  brasf  Ice  of 

Z     ^7^  '""g-boatswere  equipped  in  the  sameman- 

ZiJT    Z         '  ""'  ""  ""  S'^"' "»«"'-  of  boats 
and  tenders  of  vanous  sizes,  to  serve  as  transports  for  the 

ofXytT''  """''  ''""■  P-"--'-d  arms 

The  whole  fleet  was  commanded  by  Captain  PrinWe 

w"f:"  1  ^"'"  ^^P^™"^^  '  't  -^  ">-ned  Ha 
select  body  of  seamen,  animated  with  an  extreme  de- 
sire of  victory.     The  land-troops,  encamped  in  the 


,'!  i»«'f' 


I!   I      ' 


if  I 


m  ■■  ^ 


t  m 


%  \  W.,  :  i 


H  it 


322 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


environs,  prepared,  as  soon  as  the  navigation  of  the  lake 
should  be  secured,  t3  fall  upon  the  enemy.  Three 
thousand  men  occupied  Isle  Aux  Koix,  and  as  many 
were  stationed  at  St.  John's  ;  the  remainder  were  dis- 
tributed either  in  the  vessels  or  in  the  neighboring^ 
garrisons. 

The  Americans  united  all  their  forces  to  resist  such 
formidable  preparations.     General  Gates  was  at  their 
head,  and  Arnold  showed  himself  everywhere,  inspir 
ing  the  soldiers  with  that  ardent  courage  for  which  he 
was  himself  distinguished.    As  the  event  of  the  cam- 
paign upon  this  frontier  depended  wholly  upon  naval 
operations,  the  Americans  had  exerted  themselves  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power  to  arm  and  equip  a  fleet 
capable  of  opposing  that  of  the  enemy.    But,  notwith- 
standing the  activity  and  perseverance  of  the  American  * 
generals,  their  squadron  amounted  to  no  more  than  fif- 
teen vessels  of  different  sizes,  two  brigs,  one  corvette,  one 
sloop,  three  galleys,  and  eight  flat-boats.    Their  largest 
vessel  mounted  only  twelve  six  and  four-pounders.    But 
that  this  armament  might  not  want  a  chief  whose  in- 
trepidity equaled  the  danger  of  the  enterprise,  the 
comman  '  of  it  was  given  to  General  Arnold.    It  was 
expected  of  him  to  maintain,  upon  this  new  element, 
tlie  reputation  he  had  acquired  on  land.    The  American 
array,  notwithstanding  all  the  obstacles  it  had  encoun- 
tered, and  the  ravages  of  the  small-pox,  still  amounted 
to  eight  or  pine  thousand  men. 

All  the  dispositions  being  made  on  both  sides, 
General  Carleton,  impatient  to  conquer,  ordered  all  his 
naval  forces  to  advance  toward  Crown  Point,  intending 
to  attack  Arnold  there.     He  had  already  reached  the 


m 


AHNOID-S  NAVAl  ENGAGEMENT.         3,3 

middle  Of  the  lake  Without  having  been  aH»»   ^• 
.  t'/'"^  was  proceeding  without  an/     tit  wT" 

both  sides      A  fi^^n^  violent  agitation   on 

But  thetind  ber^r'T'™""''''''"'"^  »-«d. 

their  other  vessels  of  the  lar^e  td'as,  toot  '  ""' 

the  action.    The  bnV  r»rl«f  '  "°  P"'  ^'' 

s  c  peiceivea  tliat  he  could  not  hoDe  tn  nhfo,v    a 
vantages  with  a  part  of  his  forces  a.Zt  a.    th    e^: 
the  enem;,  and  accordindv  save  th«         ,  1 
ordering  the  fleet  to  be  ane'hoTd  „ "lie         "'"" ' 
of  the  American  squadron.  °'' '"  P'T°<=« 

The  Americans  had  Inof  ;«  4.u 

termined    f-.      .•  o«C"Pi«d,  and  consequent  y  de- 

termined to  retire  under  the  walls  of  Crown  Point 
hoping  that  the  artillery  „f  the  fortress  wouircoun ter 
balance  the  superiority  of  the  enemy's  force     vT 
seemed  inclined  to  favorthis  designTf G^^^l  HZ' 

the  English,  sailed  rapidly  toward  their  new  stln- 


c3  -I 


Hi    ni 


aij. 


iti 


324       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

when  suddenly  the  wind    became  favorable  to  the 
enemy,  who  pursued  and  came  up  with  them  before 
their  arrival  at  Crown  Point.    The  battle  was  immedi- 
ately renewed  with  greater  fury  than  at  first ;  it  con- 
tinued upward  of  two  hours.     Those  vessels,  in  the 
mean  while,  which  were  most  ahead,  crowded  sail,  and, 
passing  Crown  Point,  ran  for  Ticonderoga.     Only  two 
galleys   and  five  flat-boats,   remained   with  General 
Arnold.    With  these  he  made  a  desperate  defense ;  but 
his  second  in  command,  Brigadier-general  "Waterburgh, 
being  taken  with  his  vessel,  and  the  others  making  but 
a  faint  resistance,  he  determined,  in  order  to  prevent 
his  people  and  shipping  from  falling  into  the  power 
of  the  enemy,  to  run  these  on  shore  and  set  them  on 
fire.    He  executed  his  intention  witli  great  address. 
He  remained  on  board  the  vessel  he  commanded,  and 
kept  her  colors  flying,  till  she  was  on  fire.    Though  he 
had  been  unsuccessful  on  this  occasion,  the  disparity 
of  strength  duly  considered,  he  lost  no  reputation,  but 
rose,  on  the  contrary,  in  the  estimation  of  his  country- 
men.   He  had,  in  their  opinion,  acquitted  himself  with 
no  less  ability  in  this  naval  encounter,  than  he  had 
before  done  on  land.    The  Americans,  having  destroyed 
whatever  could  not  be  carried  off,  evacuated  Crown 
Point  and  withdrew  to  Ticonderoga.    General  Carleton 
occupied  the  former  immediately ,  and  the  rest  of  the 
army  came  soon  after  to  join  him  there. 

Completely  masters  of  Lake  Champlain,  the  English 
had  no  other  obstacle  to  surmount  besides  the  fortress 
of  Ticonderoga^  .^  order  to  penetrate  into  Lake  George. 
If  Carleton,  rapidly  availing  himself  of  his  advantage, 
had  pushed  forward  against  the  Americans  thrown  into 


GEWEiiAL  CAKLEiX)ir.  335 

The  A.eHca.s  .nade  the  ^tfo^^Z!^  '''''■ 
P-ng  aud  increaabg  their  means  ifZ^:  "T' 

reflected,  therefore  thaf  f }1  ^'^°^-    ^« 

-^a„;„.ar;:;jre:srr;?2t 

wmtenng  up„„  this  lake  extremely  peri lonT    In 

eeqner-  of  these  considerations  th^F  TV         """ 

deemed  the  reduction  ofT    ^'  ^^  '"'  S'""™' 

o  reunction  oi  Ticonderoga  of  little  nt»!t„ 

m  hs  present  circumstances,  whereas  the  cmmando? 

the  lakes  secured  him  a  clear  passage  to  rlTL  th! 

.       —  --^^  "^  ^^^«  lorcress,  without  exposing 


n 


m 


ut 


326 


ETHAN  AI.LEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


his  troops  to  the  hardsliips  of  a  siege,  undertaken  in 
the  midst  of  the  rigors  of  the  winter.     After  having 
taken  the  advice  of  a  council  of  war,  he  renounced  the 
project  of  an  attack,  and  earJy  in  Kovember  conducted 
his  arm  J  back  toward  •  Montreal,  leaving  his  advanced 
posts  in  Isle  Aux  Noix.     But  prior  to  his  retreat,  with 
the  singular  courtesy  and  humanity  of  his  character, 
he  sent  to  their  homes  the  American  officers  who  had 
fallen  into  his  power,  administering  generously  to  all 
their  wants.     He  exercised  the  same  liberality  toward 
the  common  soldiers.    The  greater  part  were  almost 
naked  ;  he  caused  them  to  be  completely  clothed,  and 
set  them  at  liberty,  after  having  taken  their  oath  that 
they  would  not  serve  against  the  armies  of  the  king 
General  Carleton  was  blamed  for  having  taken  winter- 
quarters  ;  this  resolution  was  considered  as  a  mark  of 
weakness,  and  as  highly  prejudicial  to  the  success  of 
ulterior  operations  ;  sin^e,  if  he  had  immediately  made 
himself'  master  of  Ticonderoga,  his  troops,  after  having 
passed  the  winter  in  its  vicinity,  would  have  been  able 
to  enter  the  field   early  the  following  spring.      It  is 
probable,  in  efiect,  that  the  war  would,  in  that  case, 
have  had  a  very  different  result  from  what  it  actually 
had.     But  the  conquest  of  a  place  so  strong  by  nature 
and  by  art  as  Ticonderoga,  depended  on  the  resistance 
the  Americans  would  have  made  ;  and  certainly  their 
number,  the  valor  they  had  displayed  in  the  naval  ac- 
tions, and  the  extreme  confidence  they  had  in  their 
chiefs,  all  announced  that  their  defense  would  have 
been  long  and  obstinate.  Nor  i;hould  the  considerations 
be  omitted  of  the  difficulty  of  subsistence,  and  of  the 
cgmmunications  with  Canada.     Be  this  as  it  may,  the 


nra  OBMN-MOUNTAIN   BOYS.  33, 

Tl.e  se  viol  of  the  '?'^'-^^""^'-  ">e  Americans 
B".s,  and  the  aid  f,  ^'^l "^  «ree„-Mo„„tai„ 

,^ORa  by  the  inhabitants      the  Net  „'""''  T-  ^'"'''"'^ 
'■ave  not  been  enfBcienHv V      "^""'-f^ampshire  Grants, 

Warner,  with  hrb  ^  '^o  '"'•^'^'^  "'^  l-^torian. 

rf-'ring  he  whole  r?^""*""'""^  at  Ticondero.  ■ 
«vit/a„d  enet  17"'^".  °''  "'''■  ""^  ''^  '-  a- 
-.portant  po^'The  pa^To  .  T"'  ""''"''"''  «"" 

Mountains  were  eve;.::;;''  hX;;  ""J  ^^-«" 
their  country.    Pew  in  /     ,  ™  "all  of  (reedom  anj 

"ition  as   a   sep7ral  "''  """^  ^'«'°'"  ^«cog- 

representati  JrtT  7~;;r  TT    '"^''"' 
zealous  champions  of  libl^t   '  1'^'^  \'^  «™'-  ^""^ 

commencement  of  thl7    ,  '"°°""-  ^*°">  «>« 

reached  Benni:;!^ ttrh  hl^i  '"^  ■™™°' 
■n  Boston  and  seized  a  depot  of.      ,  "^  °"'° 

once  resolved  that  t»,„»r         .        P^'^'^^r,  it  was  at 

ever  hosti.ities  should  coine^I:;'^-  '"T" 
before  the  battle  of  LexinL.tn„  7^  '  ^^^^ 

New  Hampshire  and  M        ^     '^  "™'  assurances  to 

"always  IrelTff^rt::''''.''''  '''' "^^'^ 
Btates,  if,  by  the  di  L  t  *'"'"""=«  '°  «>»«« 

«-ou.d  b'e  Ll!d  Sr:r  But^^^M^^"^^'  '"^^ 
ec-mmittee  of  safety  anticipated  ol!:""^'""' 
struggle,  and  one  weet  after  th„        ^  ^"™' 

tou,  they  thus  wrote  „  thrjeadir"""'  ''  "^^^'-S" 
ton  :  "For  heaven'.     .  ^  "en  at  Benning- 

-win,and  pTaX  t'^"^  "f  *^««'  '"'ention  t^o 
not  fo?  vonr  5 '  ^°  "'  ™'=''  "^  "  as  is  nossiMe 

jour  own  tammes  merely.    Do  not    hink  of 


II 

f  n  i '  j 

ill 


lil 


828 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OBEEN-MOUNTAIN  IIEROES 


I  4  t 


il 


^i 


coming  down  country  to  fight."    That  committee  lilt!« 
anticipated  how  soon  a  small  band  of  Green- Mountain 
Boys,  armed  only  with  muskets,  and  without  a  single 
bayonet  among  them,  would  attack  the  fortress  of  Ti- 
conderoga.     On  the  22d  of  May,  1775,  at  a  public 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Marlborough,  (near  old 
Fort  Dummer,)  the  following  pledges  were  unanimoualy 
made  :   "  We  will,  each  of  us,  at  the  expense  of  our 
lives  and   fortunes,  to  the  last  extremity,  unite  and 
oppose  the  late  cruel,  unjust  and  arbitrary  acts  of  the 
British  parliament.    We  will  be  contented  and  subject 
to  the  honorable  continental   congress  in  all  things 
which  they  shall  resolve  for  the  peace,  safety  and  wel- 
fare of  the  American  colonies." 

In  1776,  while  Carlet^  n,  with  superior  forces,  was 
attempting  to  drive  the  Americans  from  Lake  Cham- 
plain,  the  inhabitants  of  the  New-Hampshire  Grants 
gave  the  most  important  assistance  to  the  army  at  Ti- 
conderoga.     While  the  troops  in  that  fortress  were  ex- 
pecting to  be  immediately  blockaded,  they  had  pro- 
visions for  only  sixteen  days,  and  there  was  no  hope 
of  receiving  timely  succors  from  Albany.     A  call  was 
made  upon  the  committee  at  Bennington  for  assist- 
ance, and  within   an   hour  they  purchased   a   thou- 
sand bushels  of  wheat,  and  returned  word  that  they 
would  send  on  the  ^our  as  fast  as  it  could  be  manufac- 
tured.   The  committee,  in  their  reply  to  General  Gates, 
also  said  :  "  It  is  diflBcult  to  transport  what  we  have  al- 
ready on  hand ;  for  our  militia,  even  before  we  received 
your  letter,  asking  assistance,  left  us,  almost  to  a  man, 
marched,  and  have  doubtless  joined  you  before  this." 
And   thus  the  Green-Mountain  Boys  hurried  to  the 


i  fii 


«VACCATION   OK   B08T0».  JOfl 

defence  of  their  country.    Scattered  thmngh  a  moun 

CO  leTtr'''; "  ""^"' '"'" "'""'  '"-^-t  <i4:  ": 

j-«.e.irr\S;2r/iS;t- 

mothers,  the  hardy  mountaineers  rushed  to  the  battle. 

Each  valle;..  each  sequestered  S 
Mustered  Tts  little  holdfTflr^ 
l^f  If'  ^  .^""^nta  from  the  height 


Rfiu  „„.i     •  '^*'"^  streams  uni 

Still  gathering,  as  they  pour  alone 

Avo,cemo.^loud..^Xnio?S; 


strong." 
A  hasty  glance  at  the  transactions  in  other  parts  of 

execLd  a  pWor  dnVin^S  BrT W  '"'^'""^'"" 

On  th'Ttrtt ;  ft^,h ;  "'  ^""'''  ^''='pp-8- 

and  sailed  fb  SliffWr"  T™'"^  ""^  '<'"'' 
Sir  P«t«^  P„l  ;      "  '^"''^'  <^«"«'-'^  Clinton  and 

Where  entirely  subverted  the  year  before  :  the  Eevolu 
t.on  was  now  in  a  political  sense  .„^„,„  J.    f '7"! 
war  for  i«  establishment  was  yet  iob^  wi'd.""' 


sso 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OREEN-MOUNTAIN  UEROEB. 


hi* 


_    Shortly  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  Brit 
i8h,  General  Washington  removed  to  New  York,  rnak- 
ing  that  city  his  head-quarters.    The  American  forces 
in  and  around  the  city  were  about  seventeen  thousand, 
a  part  ot  whom  were  on  Long  Island,  under  command 
of  .Sullivan.    In  June  following,  General  Howe,  with 
the  forces  from  Halifax,  arrived  near  :New  York,  and 
was  shortly  after  joined  by  liis  brother,  Admiral  Lord 
Howe,  W2th  a  reinforcement  of  troops,  a  strong  naval 
force,  and  abundant  military  stores.    The  army  under 
Howe  now  amount       to  twenty-four  thousand.     He 
attacked  and  defea.  ;   the  American  army  on  Long 
Island.     General  Washington  witnessed  the  defeat  of 
his   best  troops  with  indescribable  anguish.     With- 
drawing  from  New  York,  he  gradually  retreated  before 
the  British,  adopting  the  policy  of  wearing  out  the 
enemy  by  keeping  them  in  perpetual  pursuit.    Avoid- 
ing  any  general  engagement,  small  parties  were  in- 
volved in  skirmishes  whenever  it  could  be  done  with 
decided   advantage.     Pursued  by  the  enemy,  Wash- 
ington retreated  slowly  through  New  Jersey  and  across 
the  Delaware  into  Pennsylvania.    So  hot  was  the  pur- 
suit, that  the  rear  of  the  American  army  was  often  in 
Bight  of  the  van  of  the  enemy.    Washington's  forces 
were  reduced  to  three  thousand  men,  and  they  were 
destitute  of  tents,  blankets,  and  even  utensils  for  cook- 
ing their  provisions.    This  reiraat  through  New  Jersey 
was  the  darkest  hour  of  the  revolutionary  struggle. 
On  the  same  day  that  Washington  was  driven  across 
the  Delaware,  the  British  took  possession  of  Ehode  Isl- 
and.     They  ixlready  held  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 
The  army  of  Washington  was  continually  diminishing 


CAPTrRE   OF   THI-J    IIESSrAXH.  gSJ 

over  Z  wiet';"'  £:  tr  ""'T'^"^^  """« 
constancy  of  W, -I^Ln. """"'''"-""''''  ^''"'-'^  "'« 

«'ay,  and  captured  nearlv  H»,  „i   i     7  °  '"^ 

brilliant  „„f       :  ^  ^  "^^^^^  »f  another.    Uese 

oriinaut  actions  turned  tlie  tide     Th..  -d  •.•  i   . 

ately  evacuated  T.»rt  j  *  ^■'""''  ™medi- 

wick ;  the  in  llr ;  '  """  "''''"''^  '°  ^«^  Bruns- 
they  had  I  fltd  t  t"^"  '"  ^^'«"S<'  «"«  •'™'«''tios 
driven  fro^!:  J  l^  ilTfr  ''^  "^™^  '^- 
and  New  Br„„3w'ck  aid  W  .  '''  '""^''^  ^"''"y 
-  Winter  ^narteS.trr^""  --''-<>- 

-L>unng  the  darkest  period   of  fh;«  . 
American  congress  showL  no  s^  of  di"  mh '^ 
adopted  articleo  of  confederation  t  ^'        "^ 

denond«n„    .t'';,.''".^  .acknowledgn,e„t  of  their  i„. 
.        --. -n- t- a,u  m  tnen- struggle.    The  cause 


''i«J<: 


n.>- 


l'^^:-.^ 


332        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOITNTAIN  HEROES. 


If  I 


ill 


of  America  was  popular  at  the  French  court ;  coimte- 
nnnce  and  assistance  was  at  once,  in  various  wajB, 
secretly  given.  Many  French  officers  became  desirous 
of  enlisting  in  the  struggle,  among  whom  was  the 
young  Marquis  de  Lafayette,  who  arrived  in  season  to 
take  part  in  the  next  campaign. 

The  principal  object  of  the  British,  in  the  campaign 
of  1777,  was  to  open  a  free  communication  between 
Canada  and  New  York.  The  British  ministry  were 
sanguine  in  their  hopes,  that,  the  New-England  states, 
which  they  considered  as  the  soul  of  the  confederacy, 
might  be  severed  from  the  neighboring  states,  and 
cdttipelled  to  submission.  In  prosecution  of  this  design, 
an  army  of  British  and  German  troops,  amounting  to 
tipward  of  seven  thousand  men,  exclusive  of  artillery, 
\vas  put  under  command  of  Lieutenant-general  Bur- 
goyne,*  an  enterprising  and  able  officer.  The  plan  of 
operations  consisted  of  two  parts.  General  Bnrgoyne 
with  the  main  body,  was  to  advance  by  way  of  Lake 
Champlain,  and  force  his  way  to  Albany,  or,  at  least, 
so  far  as  to  effect  a  junction  with  the  royal  army  from 
;New  York  ;  and  Lieutenant-colonel  St.  Leger,  with 
about  two  hundred  British,  a  regiment  of  New-Yoi'k 
loyalists,  raised  and  commanded  by  Sir  John  Johnson, 

"John  Burgoyne  was  an  illegitimate  son  of  Lord  Bingley.  He  en- 
tered the  army  at  an  early  age,  and  his  early  education,  and  the  influence 
of  his  father,  placed  hira  in  the  line  of  promotion.  He  first  served  in  Por- 
tugal and  Spain.  After  his  return  to  England,  he  became  a  privy  coun- 
selor, and  was  elected  to  parliament.  He  came  over  to  America  in  1775, 
Hnd  was  at  Boston  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  HilL  He  was  sent  to  Can- 
ada the  same  year,  but  early  in  1776  returned  to  England,  and  through 
the  partiality  of  the  king,  was  appointed  to  the  command  of  the  British 
lUTQV  is  Oan&da. 


GKNERAL   BUROOYNB. 


333 


-  ^  a  large  bodj  of  Indians,  was  to  ascend  tf,.  q. 

at  a"  T„l"  r^™""  ^'"'^^'"  ^'"•S<'y»«.  o«barked 
at  ht.   John's,  and   proceeded   t\n   T.t„  nk       i  • 

Without  a.y  inte^pL;  and  In  atledaS: 
camped  at  t  e  river  Bo,uet,  on  the  west  fde  of  the' 
I  ke   and  a  little  to  the  northward  of  CWr  S 
at  the  place   now  called   Willsborough.     TherHhe 
nd,ans  had  also  assemhled,  and  General  Krlne 
^  conformity  to  their  customs,  gave  them  a  wafZ  ' 
He  „ade  a  speech,  addressed  to  their  chiefs  and  wTr: 
nors,  designed  to  excite  their  savage  ardorlTe 
British  cause,  and  to  give  a  direction  to  theh^  crueUv 
and  barbarity.    He  urged  them  to  impetuos  y  ™ £ 
"e,  but  enjoined  them  not  to  kill  an/ but  thos    who 
we  e  opposed  to  them  in  arms  ;  that  old  men,  women 
children  and  prisoner.,  should   be  spared  C  thj 
kmte  and  hatchet,  even  in  the  midst  of  action      and 
they  shoi^d  only  scalp  those  who  were  killed  by'  tl"r 
fire  m  fair  opposition  ;   but  that,   under  nn  J. 
whatever,  should  they  scalp  the  ^oimded,  o    eCd"r 
-g,  and  much  less  kill  any  i„  that  condition    IZZ' 
some  compensation   was  promised,  for  all  prisoner 
they  should   bring  in  ;    but  it;  instead   of  th     thev 
brought  in  their  scalps,  they  were  to  be  called  1  J 
count.     The  British  general  could  not  £  so   una  " 
quainted  with  the  established  customs  and  habit    "• 
the  Indians,  as  to  expect  that  an  elegant  speech  wouM 
have  any  eonsiderable  effect  upon  then, :  L  ,.  I •-  . 

tie  use-I  to  the  British   as  it  bar,,  fh.^ '  ' '"*"'' 

"'"'  *'  't  TOro  the  appearance  of 


j 


f 

i 


IH  ''H 


ill: 


3 


'r 


334       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOTJNTAIN  HEROES. 

humanity,  and  might  tend  to  abate  the  reproaches 
M'ith  which  their  conduct  was  loaded  in  every  part  of 
Europe,  for  calling  forth  the  savage  barbarities  at  all 
into  the  contest. 

The  command  of  the  Americans  in  the  northern  de- 
partment, had  been  assigned  to  Major-general  Schuy- 
ler.* It  was  foreseen  that  the  contest  would  be  carried 
on  in  the  northern  and  western  parts  of  the  state  of 
New  York  ;  and  it  was  supposed  that  he  was  the  only 
man  who  would  have  influence  enough  to  keep  the 
inhabitants,  in  those  parts  of  the  state,  united  against 
the  enemy.  Four  days  before  Burgoyne  made  his 
speech  to  the  Indians,  Schuyler  arrived  at  Ticonde- 
roga,  but  did  not  find  either  the  garrison  or  the  works 
in  so  respectable  a  condition  as  he  expected.  Most  of 
the  recruits  which  had  been  ordered  to  the  place,  had 
not  arrived ;  but  little  had  been  done  to  repair  or 
strengthen  the  fortifications  ;  and  General  St.  Clair,t 
who  had  commanded,  had  not,  and  did   not  dare  to 

•  Philip  Schuyler  was  born  at  Albany,  in  173L  Ho  sei-ved  as  an  offi- 
cer  in  the  French  war.  When  quite  young,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
New-York  legislature,  and  was  eminent  for  his  intelligence  and  influ- 
ence. To  him  and  to  Governor  Cliuton  it  was  chiefly  owing  that  th^ 
province  made  an  early  and  decided  resistance  to  those  measures  which 
terminated  in  the  independence  of  the  coloniea  In  1775  he  was  ap- 
pointed  a  major-general,  and  was  directed  to  proceed  immediately  from 
New  York  to  Ticonderoga,  to  secure  the  lakes  and  to  make  preparations 
for  entering  Canada.  Being  taken  sick,  the  command  devolved  on  Mont- 
gomery. On  hi«  recovery,  he  devoted  himself  zealously  to  the  manage- 
ment  of  the  afiairs  of  the  northern  department 

*  Arthur  St  Clair  was  a  soldier  from  his  youth.    At  an  early  age,  while 
the  independent  states  were  yet  British  colonies,  he  entered  the  royal 

Amorican  army,  and  was  commissioned  as  an  fcnsign.    He  was  actively 

engagod,  durinc  the  Fmnfrfi  xrai-  ;,.  *!.-  *  ,,.,..        , 

■^  "-' '"=■  "^'".r  uf  general  vvoife,  and  waa 


BCRGOTNK'S   PROCLAMATION. 


,.    .  335 

call  m  large  numbers  of  the  militia  for  f.nr  I  • 
visions   should   fail   before   th.  ?  ^''  P'^ 

Havinginspectedthew  rrssirrLt'  '  '''''''' 

-•ti^   St.   Clair,  and  Jr^L:^^^^^^ 

wore  central  situation  ^'^^'^'  ^'  » 

th,-e«tem„g;'^;T  their      "     "''^  '""'''''"^  »<» 
«'eir  p4;rl        J™  '"he  ,et  loose  o. 

Ji>e  aceu„,„,a«o„  of  BhL    1^7    --^^- 
displayed   by  land   «n^  k  '       ^^  ^^^  ^^^ 

-d/toeX    el:  ,ih"^  ""   '^"'"^^  '»  ■=« 
The   rebellion   in  the  n!         """'^  P""'  °*'  ^"<'"«- 

their  present  Ze^  :^r::;Z' ■'V"'''''''' °' 
g-ting  and  awful  Xs.  '«"!•"  f^""'  ^"^- 
charged  with  repeated  aet    of  th  ""'"^  '''"' 

-"f".  .  Pai.  of  ool  i„  .a,  rr  ""'  unparalleled 

-nde,..a,.„i„,„„^"  «*;"«* J  "Web   "•«  celebrated  c„.. 

office,  of  „e„-.,  capable  Of  ob..  1™  lb  "J  "»  =-«'■  ««  «  :Ko„„g 
After  tbe  peace  of -63,  be  »W  o;  aL  e  £7?' "'f  "^  ''«'""'""- 
fceroaity  of  bis  mature  „„eri,  dialajfi^  ■•"° '"dc  for  which  .be 
became  dla,„,ted  witb  a  profitle^  p2T  .  .  ^^  ^  '"''  "'  ™'*'  ~" 
«™l  vici„i„„es  of  for,„„l  be  loXlT"  ^r  """"  """"«'■  *«■■  «" 
of  fte  A...,ba„,„o„:,ta4,  a„7:l'r";;  '^'^™'"  ™""J-.  ™. 
Pl"»     I»tl.i».ituati„„thoin,erlca„R      ,  .       ™"'  ''^"  ™'°'lcl- 

fair..t  preepeo,,  „f  .a„e„t  irtl  IIT  -".'""Tendence.  .,,b  ft, 
«l™»dv  established  bj  hi.  intelZl!  •  7  "°"  "'  "'■''=''  «  "-n 
".i.  peacef,.,  abode,  these  s^e^  ^  ^e  '  '^  ™^  ^'^T"-  ^o™ 
prospect,  ,hich  accom™ni..  ,.  '"°  ''"J''-™^"".  »nd  the  H,tteri„, 
■"nbW  »„„,r^,  ^  "'"•■  '•  "M  drawn  by  (be  claim,  of  . 

16 


II : 


336        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROEB. 


!       U 


I*''  ■if 


injustice,  persecution  and  tyranny!  Encouragement 
and  employment  were  offered  to  those  who  should 
assist  the  British  king  in  redeeming  the  colonies  from 
the  oppressions  of  congress,  and  restoring  them  to  the 
blessings  of  British  liberty  and  government !  Protec- 
tion and  security,  but  not  very  explicitly  expressed, 
were  held  out  to  the  peaceable  and  industrious,  who 
should  remain  in  their  habitations.  And  all  the  ca- 
lamities and  horrors  of  war  were  denounced  to  those 
who  should  any  longer  dare  to  persevere  in  their  hos- 
tility to  the  Britisii  king  and  army.  Nothing  had  ever 
appeared  in  America,  in  a  style  so  pompous,  tumid 
and  bombastic.  Instead  of  producing  the  desired 
effect,  and  frightening  the  people  into  submission,  the 
proclamation  was  everywhere  the  subject  of  derision 
and  ridicule ;  and  treated  as  the  production  of  osten- 
tatious vanity,  inslence  and  folly,  not  at  all  calculated 
to  operate  on  the  hopes  or  the  fears  of  the  people  of 
the  United  States. 

Having  finished  his.  speeches  and  proclamations,  the 
British  general  employed  himself  in  more  formidahJe 
operatiuns.  After  a  short  stay  at  Crown  Point,  Bur- 
goyne  moved  on  wiih  his  army  to  Ticonderoga.  The 
state  of  the  American  fort  and  garrison  at  that  place 
did  not  promise  a  very  long  or  vigorous  defense.  The 
old  French  lines  had  indeed  been  strengthened  with 
additional  works  and  a  block-house.  On  the  east- 
ern shore  of  the  lake,  and  opposite  to  Ticonderoga, 
the  Americans  had  taken  still  more  pains  in  fortifying 
a  high  circular  hill,  to  which  they  had  given  the  name 
of  Mount  Independence.  On  the  summit  of  this  hill 
the"  had  erected  a  star  fort  enclosirifl'  a  larce  sonare 


ill 


ARMY   AT   TICOKTDEROGa. 


337 


of  barracks,  well  fortified  and  surrounded  with  artillerv 
These  two  posts  were  joined  by  a  bridge  thrown  across 
the  lake.     This  bridge  was  supported  by  twenty-two 
piers  of  very  large  timber,  placed  at  equal  distances  ; 
the   spaces   between   these   were  filled  with  separate 
floats,  each   about  fifty  feet   long,  and   twelve  wide, 
strongly  fastened  together  with  chains  and  rivets.     The 
north  side  of  the  bridge  was  defended  by  a  boom  of 
very  large  pieces  of  timber,  fastened  together  by  riv- 
eted  bolts  and  double  chains,  made  of  iron  an  inch  and 
a  halt  square. 

But  notwithstanding  the  apparent  strength  of  Ticon- 
deroga,  it  was  eflectually  overlooked   and  commanded 
by  a  neighboring  eminence  called  Sugar  Hill,  or  Mount 
Defiance     This  mountain,  by  its  height  and  proximity, 
bad   such  an    entire   command  both  of  Ticonderoga 
and  Mount  Independence,  that  an  enemy  might  from 
thence  have  counted  the  numbers,  and  enfiladed  every 
pai-t  of  the  works,  in  either  of  those  places.     This  cir- 
cumstance was  well  known  to  the  American  officers, 
and  they  had  a  consultation  about  fortifying  the  moun- 
tarn,;  but  it  was  declined,  because  their  works  were 
already  so  extensive,  that,  with  the  addition  of  what 
would  be  proper  on  Sugar  Hill,  they  would  require  ten 
or  twelve  thousand  men  for  their  defense -a  greater 
number  than  could  be  spared  for  that  purpose.    In- 
stead   of  a   full   complement   of  troops   to   man   the 
extensive  lines    and    defend    the    numerous    works 
the  whole  force  which  St.  Clair  had,  consisted  only 
ot    two    thousand    five   hundred    continental   troops, 
aided  by  nine  hundred  militia,  badly  equipped,  worse 
armed,    and     most   of  them   without   bavonets.     St 


888 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOCNTAIN  HEROES. 


i"  'f 


<l 


V!  . 


f    1     ' 
I 


Clair  wa8  in  hopes  that  Burgoyne's  impetuosity 
would  have  led  him  to  make  a  sudden  assault  upon 
the  place,  which  he  expected  to  repel  with  success  ; 
but  as  soon  as  he  was  informed  of  the  numbers 
in  his  army,  and  that  a  regular  siege  was  intended, 
he  was  convinced  that  an  effectual  defense  could 
not  be  made  by  his  troops. 

The  royal  army  advanced  with  great  celerity,  but 
with  much  caution  and  order,  on  both  sides  of  the 
lake,  the  naval  force  keeping  its  station  in  the  center. 
On  the  near  approach  of  the  right  wing  of  the  British 
army  on  the  Ticonderoga  side,  on  the  2d  of  July,  the 
Americans  abandoned  and  set  tire  to  their  works,  1)lock- 
houses  and  saw  mills,  toward  Lake  George  ;  and  with 
out  making  any  opposition,  permitted  General  Phillips 
to  take  possession  of  Mounf  Hope.  This  post  com- 
manded the  American  lines  in  a  great  degree,  and  cut 
off"  their  communication  with  Lake  George.  The  Amei-- 
icans,  on  this  occasion,  were  charged  with  supineness 
and  want  of  vigor.  Their  inactivity  arose  not  from 
want  of  courage,  but  from  lack  of  men  enough  to  make 
an  effectual  opposition  to  the  powerful  force  with 
which  they  were  surrounded. 

In  the  mean  time  the  royal  army  proceeded  with 
such  expedition  ju  the  construction  of  their  works,  the 
bringing  up  of  artillery,  stores,  and  provisions,  and 
the  establishment  of  posts  and  communications,  that 
by  the  fifth,  matters  were  so  far  advanced  as  to  require 
but  one  or  two  days  more  to  completely  invest  the 
posts  on  both  sides  of  the  Jake.  Sugar  Hill  had  alsc 
been  examined,  and  the  advantages  which  it  presented 
were   so    important    that   it   had    been    resolved    to 


KVACUATIO.N    OF  TIOONDKKOOA.  339 

take    possession,    a>„l    c-ect    a    battery    there      Thi, 
work,  though  attended  with  extreme  iabo    Ind  d  ffi 
city,  had  been  carried  on  by  Geaera    P,  i„i ,    ^*- 
much   expedition  and   snccess.     A   road    h^d    K 
made   through  a  very  rough    grotd  t  ^u'tolZ 
the  mountmn ;  and  the  British  were  at  work  in  con 
Btruct,ng  a  level  for  a  battery,  and  trans^    ting  t  .e" 

play,  the  Amenean  works  would  have  been  completely 
invested  on  every  side.  "' 

In  these  circumstances  a  council  of  war  was  called 
by  bt  Cla,r.    He  was  convinced  that  it  was  absolutely 
necessary  to  eva.  .te  the  place.    The  council  were  i„^ 
formed  that  their  whole  ettective  number  was  not  suffi- 
cient to  man  one  half  of  the  works ;  that  as  the  whole 
must  be  constantly  upon  duty,  it  would  be  impossible 
for  them  to  support  the  fatigue  for  any  considerable 
length  of  t.me;  t  at  General  Schuyler,  who  was  a 
Fo,t  Edward,  had  not  sufficient  force  to  relieve  the 
garrjson;   and  that  as    the   enemy's  batteries  were 
nearly  ready  to  open,  and  the  place  would  be  com! 
pletely  invested  in  twenty-four  hours,  nothing  could 
save  the  troops  but  an  immediate  evacuation  of  the 
posts.    The  general's  representation  was  admitted  to 
b.  correct,  and  it  was  unanimously  agreed  by  the  conn- 
cd  to  abandon  the  fortress  that  night.   It  was  proposed 
fat  the  baggage  of  the  army,  with  such  artillery 
stores  and  provisions  as  the  necessity  of  the  occasion 
would  admit,  should  be  embarked  with  a  strong  de- 
tachment, on   board  two  hundred  bateaux,  and  dis- 
patched  under  convoy  of  five  armed  galleys,  up  the 
south  river  t„  Skenesborough;  and  that  the  main  body 


lii 


m  im 


Ih; 


340       BTHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOD NTAIN  HEROKS. 

of  the  army  should  proceed  by  land,  taking  ita  rontr» 
on  the  road  to  Castleton,  which  was  about  thirty  miles 
to  the  south  of  Ticonderoga,  and  join  the  boats  and 
galleys  at  Skenesborough  talk.  It  was  thought  neces- 
sary to  keep  the  matter  a  secret,  till  the  time  should 
arrive  when  it  was  to  be  e.-ecuted.  The  English  had 
no  suspicion  of  what  was  passing,  and  the  march  com- 
menced under  the  most  favorable  auspices.  But  all  at 
once  a  house  which  took  fire  on  Mount  Independence, 
roused  by  its  glare  of  light  the  attention  of  the  English, 
who  immediately  perceived  all  that  had  taken  place. 
The  Americans  finding  themselves  discovered,  marched 
hastily,  and  in  some  disorder,  as  far  as  Hubbardton, 
where  they  halted  to  refresh  themselves  and  rally 
the  dispersed.  But  the  English  were  n(>t  idle.  Gen- 
eral Frazer,  at  the  head  of  a  strong  detachment  of  gren- 
adiers and  light  troops,  commenced  an  eager  pursuit 
by  land,  upon  the  right  bank  of  Wood  Creek.  Gen- 
eral Reidesel,  behind  him,  rapidly  advanced  with  his 
Bruns wickers,  either  to  support  the  English,  or  to  act 
separately,  as  occasion  might  require.  General  Bur- 
goyne  determined  to  pursue  the  Americans  by  water. 
But  it  was  first  necessary  to  destroy  the  boom  and 
bridge  which  had  been  constructed  in  front  of  Ticon- 
deroga.  The  British  seamen  and  artificers  immediately 
engaged  in  the  operation,  and  in  a  short  time,  those 
works,  which  had  cost  so  much  labor  and  so  vast  an 
outlay,  were  cut  through  and  demolished.  The  pas- 
sage thus  cleared,  the  ships  of  Burgoyne  immediately 
proceeded  with  extreme  rapidity  in  search  of  the 
Americans ;  all  was  in  movement  at  once  upon  land 
and    water.     By   three    in   the  afternoon,  the    vaa 


MTTREAT  OF  TIIK   AMEBI0Alf8. 


341 


of  the  British  squadron,  composed  of  gun-boats,  came 
up  with    and   attacked   the  American  galleys,  near 
Skenesborough.     In  the  mean  time,  three  regiments 
which  had  been  landed  at  South  Bay,  sscended  and 
passed  a  mountain  with  great  expedition,  in  order  to 
cut  off  a  retreat  to  Fort  Anne.   But  the  Americans  elu- 
ded this  stroke  by  the  rapidity  of  their  flight.  The  Brit- 
ish frigates  having  joined  the  van,  the  galleys,  already 
hard  pressed  by  the  gun-boats,  were  completely  over- 
powered.   Two  of  them  surrendered;  three  were  blown 
up.    The  Americans  now  despaired  ;  having  set  firo 
to  their  works,  mills,  and  bateaux,  and  otherwise  de- 
stroyed  what  they  were  unable  to  burn,  they  escaped  as 
well  as  they  could,  without  halting  till  they  reached 
Fort  Anne.    Their  loss  was  considerable,  for  the  ba- 
teaux they  burnt  were  loaded  with  baggage,  provisions 
and  munitions,  as  necessary  to  their  sustenance  as  to 
military  operations.     The  corps  which  had  set  out  by 
land  were  in  no  better  situation.     The  vanguard,  con- 
ducted  by  St.  Clair,  had  arrived  at  O^istleton  ;   the 
rear,  commanded  by  Colonels  Francis  and  Warner 
had  rested  the  night  of  the  sixth,  at  Hubbardton  six 
miles  below  Castleton.  ' 

At  Hubbardton,  the  advanced  corps  of  ^he  British 
army  overtook  the  rear  of  the  American  troo  s    on 
the  morning  of  the  7th  of  July.    The  Americanlrmy, 
all  but  part  of  three  regiments,  were  gone  forward  • 
these  were  part  of  Hale's,  Francis'  and  Warner's  reo-i! 
ments.    The  enemy  attacked  them  with  superior  num- 
bers,  and  tne  higiiest  prospect  of  success.    Francis  and 
Warner  opposed   them  with  great  ^spirit  and  vigor  • 
8  or  rrow^o  uouid  nave  discovered  more 


i 


;|:^ 


842 


ETHAN  ALI.KN  AND  OHK:uN-MOUNTAIN  IIKKOIR. 


conrago  and  Hnniu'ss  tlinu  tlu'j  dinplayi-U  tlirougli  liio 
wholo  action.     Largo  rointuiTisinents  of  the  enouiy  ar- 
riving, it    bucauif   im|H>H8il)lo   to   iiiako  any  elleetual 
op]>obition.    Francis  fell  in  a  niont  honorablu  dischargo 
of  bis    duty.      ]lale  surrenderod   with  iiis  regiment. 
Surrounded  on  every  side  by  the  enemy,  but  cahn  and 
undaunted.  Colonel  Warner  fought  his  way  through 
all   opposition,  brought    off  the  troops  that  refused  to 
capitulate  with  Hale,  checked  the  enemy  in  their  pur- 
suit, and  contrary  to  all  expectations,  arrived  safe  with 
his  troops  at  Manchester.     To  the  northward  of  that 
town  the  whole  country  was  deserted.      The  colonel 
determined  to  make  a  stand  at  that  place ;  encouraged 
by  his  example  and  firmness,  a  body  of  the  militia 
soon  joined  him  ;  and  he  was  once  more  in  a  situation 
to  protect    the   inhabitants,   harass    the    enemy,  and 
break  up  their  advanced  parties. 

The  loss  of  the  royal  troops  in  dead  and  wounded 
amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and  eighty.     General 
Sf.  Clair,  upon  intelligence  of  this  discomfiture,  and 
that   of  the   disaster    at   Skenesborough,   which    was 
brought  him  at  the  same  time  by  an  officer  of  one  of 
tiie   galleys,  apprehending  that  ho  should  be  inter- 
rupted if  he  proceeded  toward  Fort  Anne,  struck  into 
til©  woods  on  the  loft,  uncertain  whether   he   should 
repair   to  Massachusetts,  or   endeavor  to  reach  the 
army  at  Fort  Edward.     But  being  joined   two   days 
after,   at  Manchester,   by   tlie   remains  of  the   corps  . 
of  Colonel  Warner,  and  having  collected  the  fugitives, 
he  proceeded  to  Fort  Edward,  in  order  to  unite  with 
General  Schuylei;. 
While  these  events  were  passing  on   the   left,  the 


BATTLE    AT   KOHT   AOTm. 


348 


nnfihsh  general,  ro«olve,l  to  drive  the  American,  from 

Wood  Creek  (VIonol  Hill  wa's  detached  for  this  m.r- 
-0  from  Ske„eBb„ro„,H,;  and  to  facilitate  hi«  opera- 
.on«,  the   greatest  exertions  were  made    In  carrying 

bateanx  over  tl,e  fall,  at  that  place,  which  enabled 

at  the  American,  had  a  namerons  garri,„n   there, 
ngad,er  Powell   was  sent  with   two  regiments  to 
he  succor  o.   Colonel  Hill.    The  American  Colonel 
Long,  who,  with  a  great  ,,art  of  hi,  corp,,  had  escaped 
he  destrucfon  of  the  boats  at  the  falls,  commanded 
he  garr„on  of  Fort  Anne.     Having  hoard  that  the 
enemy  was  approaching,  he  gallantly  ,allied  out  to  re- 
ceive  h,m      The  Knglisl,  deti^nded  then.selve,  with 
courage    but  the  American,  had  already  neariy  sur- 
rounded  them.    Colonel  Hill,  finding  himself  too  ha  d 
pre„ed,  endeavored  to  take  a  stronger  position.    This 
movement  wa,  executed  with  a,  much  order  as  intre- 
pidity amidst  the  reiterated  and  fonou,  charge  of  the 
Amer,c»,ns.    The  combat  had  lasted  for  morefhan  two 
hour,,  and  victory  was  still  doubtful,  when  all  at  once 
the  Americans  heard    the    horrible  yells  of  the  sav- 
ages,  who   approached,  and  being    informed  at    the 
same  instant  that  the  corps  of  Powell  wa,  about  to 
fall  upon  them,  they  retired  to  Fort  Anne.    Not  think- 
ing themselves  in  safety  even  there,  they  set  it  on  fire, 
and  withdrew  to  Fort  Edward,  on  the  river  Hudson. 
General   Schuyler  was  already  in  this  place,  and 
bt.  Clair  arrived  there  on  the  twelfth,  with  the  remains 
of  the  garrison  of  Ticonderoga.    It  would   be  diflicult 

to  describe  the  harduhma  unri  r>„-„ ^i.-  ,  ., 

J ,,  i^iiocij  WuiuD  cneso  troops 

15* 


I 
In 


ii'ii 


...    ■  il 

I  1 


Mil 


W4        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OHEEN-MOUNTAhV  IJI-IUOLB. 

had  suffered,  from  the  badnesa  of  the  weather  and  the 
want  of  covering  and   provisions,   in  thoir  cireuitons 
march  through  tiie  wodtis,  from  Caatioton  to  Fort  Ed- 
ward.    After  the  arrival  of  these  troops,  and  of  the 
fugitives,  who  came  in  by  companies,  all  the  American 
troops  amounted  to  little  over  four  thousand  men,  in- 
cluding the  militia.     They  were  in  want  o+'  all  neces- 
saries, and  even  of  courage,  from  the  effect  of  their  re- 
cent reverses.     The  Americans  lost,  in  these  different 
actions,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  twenty -eight 
pieces  of  artillery,  with  a  prodigious  quantity  of  war- 
like  stores,  baggage  and   provisions,  particularly  of 
flour,  which  they  left  in  Ticonderoga  and  Mount  In 
dependence.    To  increase  the  calamity,  the  whole  of 
the  neighboring  country  was  struck  with  terror  by  this 
torrent  of  disasters. 

During  the  reverses  of  the  American  army,  and  the 
triumphant  progress  of  Burgoyne,  the  consternation  of 
the   people  in  northern   New  York  and   on  the  New- 
Hampshirt   Grants,  was  greatly  increased   by  the  nu- 
merous  m"'('er8  and  cruelties  of  Burgoyne's   Indian 
allies  —  ror  the  efforts  of  that  general  to  dissuade  them 
from  the   perpetration  of  their  cruel  enormities  were 
ineffectual.    Restrain  them  he  could  not ;  and  it  was 
admitted  by  the  British  writers  of  that  day,  that  the 
friends  of  the  royal  cause,  ..s  well  as  its  enemies,  were 
equally  victims  to  fcheir  indiscriminate   rage.    It  was 
even  ascertained  that  the  British  oflScers  were  deceived 
by  their  treacherous  allies  into  the  purchase  of  the 
ecalps  of  their  own  comrades.     Among  other  instances 
of    cruelty,  the  well-known    murder  of   Miss    Jane 
M'Crea,   which   happened    in    the   early   part  of  the 


JENNY   m'cRKA. 


845 


campaign,  filled  the  public  mind  with  horror.  Every  cir- 
cumstance  of  this  unnatnral  and  bloody  transaction, 
around  which  there  lingers  a  melancholy  interest  to 
this  day,  served  to  heighten  alike  its  :,.tere8tand  its 
enormity  *  Many  have  been  the  versions  of  this  bloody 
taJe.  General  Gates,  who  had  been  most  unjustly  di- 
rected  to  supersede  Geiieral  Schuyler  in  the  northern 
department,   assailed   General   Burgoyne  with  great 

-The  tragic  fate  --f  Mi«,  M'Crea  furmR  a  prominent  feature  in  (J.o 
bnlhant  .ale,  entitled.  "The   Rangers."  b^  the  novelist  of  the  Green 
Mountains  Hon.  Daniel  P.  Thompson     The  facts  in  regard  to  her  mur- 
der, stripped  of  their  romance,  are  these  -Sho  belonged  to  a  famiiv  of 
tones,  and  had  engafed  hersolf  lo  marri,,^e  to  a  young  refugee,  named 
Jones,  a  lieutenant  in  the  British  service,  who  was  advancing  with  Bur- 
e-r  ".    When  the  people  fled  before  the  victorious  Briton,  she  remained 
benmu  with  some  friends,  in  the  expectation  cf  aieeting  her  lover     A 
p.»rty  .'Indians  in  advance  of  the  army,  sacking  for  plunder,  took  her 
apnr.;ner  and  retired  toward  the  British  cuip.    Whan  they  reached 
the  army.  Miss  M'Crea  was  not  with  them,  but  they  bore  a  scalp  which 
was  recognized  to  be  hers.    Whether  they  quarreled  about  the  division 
of  the  rewai-d   they  were  accustomed   to  receive  for  their  prisoner  or 
whether,  as  they  averred,  she  was  shot  by  a  party  of  Americans  in  pur- 
•uit  of  them,  cannot  now  be  kno-.        Her  mutilated  corpse  was  after- 
ward found  under  a  pine  tree  near  a  spring,  and  the  tree  a«d  sprin-. 
were  afterward  k..own  by  Ker  name.      It  was  known  in  the  camp,  that 
Lieutenant  Jones  wa.  Vetiothed  to  Jenny,  and  the  stor^  got  abrc.d  that 
be  hao  sent  the  Indians  for  her  ;  tbat  they  had   quarreled  with      .  ther 
part>.  which  they  met  on  their  return,  respecting  the  reward  lie  had 
offered,  and  murdered  her  to  settle  the  dispute.     Receiving  high  -  ouches 
of  coloring,  as  it  went  from  one  narrator  to  another,  the  sad  story  pro- 
duced a  deep  and  wide-spread  indignation.    Tones,  chilled  with  .  orror 
and  broken  in  spirit  by  the  event,  tendered  a  resignation  of  his  cowmis- 
8u>n,  but  It  was  refused.    He  purchased  the  scalp  of  his  Jenny,  and  wifih 
this  cherished   memento,  deserted   and  retired  to  Canada.    There  he 
lived  to  be  an  old  man.  and  died  only  a  few  years  ago.    The  death  of 
Jenny  was  a  heavy  blow,  and  he  never  recovered  from  it.      In  youth  ha 
was  exceedingly  gay  and  garrulous;  but  after  that  melancholv  «vpn*   i. 


346       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


4  r^ 


'J'    'i  > 

if 


It  i 


violence  upon  the  subject  of  these  outrages  —  charging 
him  with  encouraging  the  murder  of  prisoners,  and  tho 
massacre  of  women  and  children,  by  paying  the  In- 
dians a  stipulated  price  for  scalps.  Burgoyne  indig- 
nantly denied  the  charge  of  encouraging  the  Indians, 
although  he  could  not  but  admit  the  horrible  extent  of 
their  barbarities  among  unarmed  and  inoffensive  in- 
habitants. "  I  would  not,"  he  said  in  reply  to  General 
Gates,  '-be  conscious  of  the  acts  you  presume  to  im- 
pute to  me,  fo^-  the  whole  continent  of  America,  though 
the  wealth  of  worlds  was  in  its  bowels,  and  a  paradise 
upon  its  surface." 

The  retrefi^  of  the  American  army  from  Ticonderoga, 
on  the  approach  of  Burgoyne,  while  it  filled  the  public 
mind  with  dismay,  as  the  surrender  of  a  position  on 
which  the  safety  of  the  north  depended,  was  regarded 
with  gloomy  apprehension,  as  the  prelude  to  further 
reverses.     The  mind  of  Washington,  however,  by  a 
happy  forecast,  perceived  a  gleam  of  hope,  even  in  thia 
hour  of  despondency ;   and  with  a  sort  of  propheti( 
skill,  seems  to  have  foretold,  with  extraordinary  pre- 
cision, the  auspicious  change  of  afiairs  which  was  ii 
store.    In  reply  to  a  letter  of  General  Schuyler,  of  the 
17th  of  July,  communicating  the  unfavorable  state  and 
prospects  of  the  army,  he  says :  "  Though  our  affairs 
have,  for  some  days  past,  worn  a  gloomy  aspect,  yet  I 
look  forward  to  a  happy  change.    I  trust  General 

was  sad  and  tacitnrn.  He  never  married,  and  shunned  society  as  much 
as  business  would  permit  Toward  th^  close  of  July  in  every  year, 
when  the  anniversary  of  the  tragedy  approached,  he  would  shut  himself 
in  his  room,  and  refuse  to  speak  with  any  .me.  His  friends  avoided  any 
reference  to  th«  Revolution  in  his  preaenoe.      [See  page  428  ] 


BtJEGOYNn's   AKMT. 


847 


Bnrgoyne'8  army  will  meet,  sooner  or  later,  an  effectual 
oneck;  and,  as  I  suggested  betbre,  that  th    sueeeTs  h' 

as  had  win  precipitate  his  ruin.  From  your  arcolts 
l.e  appears  to  be  pursuing  that  line  of  eonduet,  w  ich 
.f  all  others,  is  most  favorable  to  us,  I  mean  ae     "t 

e taehment.    This  eonduet  will  certainly  gi™  ,-,  om"*  ^ 

h  rruirT"'"' ''''°''  ^■^Le.to.rZ 

11      ,  ^  ^^  '"  ''"PPy  ««  t"  '^"t  one  of  them 

OS  though  it  should  not  exceed  four,  five  or  six  hu„T 
red  me„,..„„,a  inspire  the  people  and  raw^mul 
Dt  the,r  present  anxiety.  In  such  an  event  they  wo„W 
.-=  s,ght  of  past  misfortune,  and,  urged  at  tlfeTame 
™e  by  a  regard  for  their  own  security,  they  would  flv 
to  arms  and  aflbrd  every  aid  in  their  p^wer  "  ^ 

It  must  be  confessed  that  it  renuired  n„  „  i- 
share  Of  fonitude  to  find  topics  ofrnfolal tZ 
pr  sent  state  of  affairs.    The  British  were  adv  nel 
^-Uh  a  well-appointed  army  into  the  heart  of  the  co2 

finish  the  war.  The  army  consisted  in  part  of  German 
troops,  veterans  of  the  Seven  Year.'  War,  under  the 
command  of  a  general  of  experience,  co.duct  and 
valor.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  :mple  han  the 
™.tary  supplies,  the  artillery,  munitions,  and  sto^^ 

force  o,  Canadians  and  American  loyalists  furnished 
the  requisite  spies,  scouts,  and  ranger.  ;  and  a  numer 
ous  force  of  savages  in  their  war-dresses,  with  their 
peculiar  weapons  and  native  ferocity,  increased   the 
terrors  of  its  approach. 

On  f.-  evacuation  of  Tieoiideroga,  and  the  furtho, 


.'1  . 


34  a 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


n      n 


advance  of  such  an  army,  the  New-England  states,  and 
particularly  Kew  Hampshire  and  Massachusetts,  were 
filled  with   alarm.     It  was  felt  that  their  frontier  was 
uncovered,  and  that  strenuous  and  extraordinary  eftbrts 
for  the  protection  of  the  country  were  required.      The 
committee  of  safety  of  what  was  then  called  the  New- 
Hampshire    Grants,  (the   present  state  of   Vermont,) 
wrote  in   the  most  pressing  terms  to  the  New-Hamp- 
shire committee  of  safety  at  Exeter,  apprising  them, 
that,  if  assistance  should   not  be  sent  to  them,  they 
should  be  forced  to  abandon  the  country,  and  take  ref- 
uge east  of  the  Connecticut  river.    When  these  tidings 
reached  Exeter,  the  assembly  had  finished  their  spring 
session  and  had  gone  home.     A  summons  jfrom   the 
committee  brought  them  together  again,  and  in  three 
days  they  took  the  most  effectual  and  decisive  steps  for 
the  defense  of  the  country.    Among  the  patriotic  mem- 
bers of  the  assembly,  who  signalized   themselves   on 
this  occasion,  none  was  more  conspicuous  than  John 
Langdon.    The  members  of  that  body  were  greatly 
inclined  to  despond  ;  the  public  credit  was  exhausted  ; 
and  there  were  no  means  of  supporting  troops,  if  they 
could  be  raised.     Meantime  the  defenses  of  the  frontier 
had  fallen,  and  the  enemy,  with  overwhelming  forces, 
was   penetrating  into   the  country.     At   this  gloomy 
juncture,  John  Langdon,  a  merchant  of  Portsmouth. . 
and  speaker  of  the  assembly,  thus  addressed  its  mem- 
bers : — "I  have  three  thousand  dollars  in  hard  mon*^/  ; 
I  will  pledge  my  plate  for  three  thousand  more  ;  i  have 
seventy  hogsheads  of  Tobago  rum,  which  shall  hb  sold 
for  the  most  it  will  bring.    These  are  at  tlie  service  of 
the  state.    If  we   succeed   in  defending  our  fire-sides 


ROES. 

states,  and 
setts,  were 
ontier  was 
ary  eftbrts 
;ed.      The 

the  New- 
Yermont,) 
ew-Hamp- 
iing  them, 
hem,  they 
i  take  ref- 
use tidings 
eir  spring 

from  the 
I  in  three 
3  steps  for 
otic  mem- 
selves  on 
han  John 
e  greatly 
diausted  ; 
)s,  if  they 
le  frontier 
ng  forces, 
s  gloomy 
Ttsmoiitl). 

its  mem- 
i  moD'^.y  ; 
e ; i  have 
ill  hj  sold 
lervice  of 

fire-sides 


GENERAL   STARK. 


349 


and  homes,  I  may  be  remunerated  ;  if  we  do  not  the 
property  will   be  of  no  value  to  me.     Our  old   friend 

at  BunW  Hdl,  may  be  safely  intrusted  with  the  con- 

of  l:;:;:  J^^^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^^  ''''  ^^-^  ^^«  p-^- 

This  proposal  infused  life  into  the  measures  of  the 
assembly^    They  formed  the  whole  militia  of  the  state 

to  Wdham  Whipple,  of  the  second  to  John  Stark.* 

*  The  exploits  of  Stark  in  the  vicinitv  of  LaVp  rh.r^  i  •     •     , 
French  wa.  have  ahead,  been  .e„U  1    „'  '^''^ri''-"; '"  *^'''' 
of  thef^ceof  ,,63.  he  had  ,e.n™ed  .„  hi,    a™  ^Kew  Halv  " 

«.-n,n,:  «,ed  with  Li,„:t  .'7.  IZup^h''™';"  '; 

of  ne,  at  B.ed..  hill,  CoLe,  Sea*  atlhead  „,  huTaT  1'  "'" 
of  New  HampAire,  poured  on  the  e,^e,„v  th'  dlHv  «  1"  *"" 
.in,,  Which  e.ec.d  anch  .e™Aah,e  dea  Jc^:  it,  ^t^Tnd'cr 

rreitre-^rirz--^^^^^^^^^ 

-title  his  name  to  pe^^etual  rcnembrance    Tfte  thTn       K      '  "  ""* 

to  the  am,,  who  hailed  it  with  ahouls  of  apnlauae  Th,  Vll  '^'^'"^ 
the  regiment  of  Start  waa  atationed,  waa Tar^Ml  t  r  T  Z  " 
in  h„„„.,f  the  evea.  which  had  j™t'hee„  pl:!,^""  o„  r  :* 
Jo„,eH  Oeneml  Waahington,  and  waawith  him  during  that  H    V  . 

.hen  he«  ^fo„a  han,h.,a™,  .h™,h  .:::T:i  .Tr 
of  >:..,  «.  ,^n^  „  «ew  Hampahi™  „„  .  ,^,,,„^  „^-- 


'    .— JJW" 


in ' " 


If  il:. 


.  i 


v^s 


i  -'-  * 


N 


350        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  0 KEEN-MOUNTAIN  IIEEOr:S. 

They  ordered  one  fourth  part  of  Stark's  brigade  and  one 
fourtli  of  threo  regiments  of  Whipple's  w  march  imme- 
diately under  the  command  of  Stark,  "to  stop  the 
progress  of  the  enemy  on  our  western  frontiers." 

Agreeably  to  his  orders,  Stark  proceeded  to  Charles- 
ton ;  his  men  very  readily  followed ;   and  as  fast  as 
they  arrived,  he  sent  them  forward  to  join  the  troops 
under  Colonel  Warner,  at  Manchester.     At  that  place 
he   joined  Warner  with   about   eight  hundred  men. 
Schuyler  repeatedly  urged   Stark  to  join   the  troops 
under  his  command  ;  but  he  declined  complying.     He 
was  led  to  this  conduct  not  only  by  the  reasons  which 
have  been  mentioned,  but  by  a  difference  of  opinion 
as  to  the  best  method  of  opposing  Burgoyne.    Schuyler 
wished  to  collect  all  the  American  troops  in  the  front, 
to  prevent   Burgoyne  from  marching  on  to  Albany. 
Stark  was  of  opinion  that  the  surest  way  to  check 
Burgoyne  was   to  have  a  body  of  men  on  his  rear, 
ready  to  fall  upon  him  in  that  quarter,  whenever  a 
favorable  opportunity  should  be  presented.     The  New- 
England   militia  had  not  formed   a  high  opinion  of 

Having  filled  his  regiment,  and  while  waiting  orders,  be  learned  that 
eevernl  junior  officers  had  been  promoted  by  congress,  while  he  was  left 
out  of  the  list    Feeling  greatly  aggrieved,  he  resigned  his  commission 
and  left  the  army,  not,  however,  to  desert  his  country  in  the  hour  of  peril, 
for,  like  General  Schuyler,  he  was  active  for  good  while  divt»pted  of  mil- 
itary authority.    He  was  very  popular,  and  the  assembly  of  New  Hamp^ 
shire  regarded  him  as  a  pillar  of  strength  in  upholding  the  confidence 
and  courage  of  the  militia  of  the  state.    When  that  body  offered  him  the 
command  of  the  new  recruits,  laying  aside  his  private  griefs,  he  once 
mere  hastened  to  the  field,  stipulating,  however,  that  he  should  not  be 
obliged  to  join  the  main  army,  but  hang  upon  the  wing  of  the  enemy, 
strike  when  opportunity  should  offer,  according  to  his  own  discretion, 
and  be  accountable  to  no  one  but  the  assorubly  of  rfew  Ilampshire. 


ADVANCE   OF   BCE3K)YNE. 


351 


Schuyler  as  a  general ;  and  Stark  meant  to  keep  him- 
8elt  in  a  situation  in  which   he  might  embrace  any 
favorable  opportunity  for  action,  either  in  conjunction 
with  him,  or  otherwise ;  Stark  assured  Schuyler  that 
he  would  yield  to  any  measure  necessary  to  promote 
the  public  good,  but  wished  to  avoid  a  course  that  was 
not   consistent   with   his   own  honor ;   and  if  it  was 
thought  necessary,  he  would  march  to  his  camp     He 
wrote  particularly,  that  he  would  lay  aside  all  private 
resentment,  when   it   appeared   in  opposition  to  the 
public  good.     But  in  the  midst  of  these  protestations, 
he  was   watching  for  an   opportunity  to   evince   his 
courage  and  patriotism,  by  falling  upon  some  part  of 
Burgoyne's  army. 

While  the  American  army  was  thus  assuming  a  more 
respectable  appearance.  General  Burgoyne  was  making 
very  slow  advances  toward  Albany.     From  the  28th 
of  July,  to  the  15th  of  August,  the  British  army  was 
continually  employed   in   bringing   forward   bateaux, 
provisions,  and  ammunition  from  Fort  George  to  the 
nearest  navigable  part  of  Hudson  river  ;  a  distance  of 
not  more  than  eighteen  miles.    The  labor  was  excessive; 
the  Europeans   were   but  little  acquainted  with  the 
methods  of  performing  it  to  advantage,  and  the  effect 
was  in  no  degree  equivalent  to  the  expense  of  labor  and 
time.     With  all  the  efforts  that  Burgoyne  could  make 
encumbered  with  his  artillery  and  baggage,  his  labors 
were  inadequate  to  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  army 
with  provisions  for  its  daily  consumption,  and  the  es 
tablishment  of  the  necessary  magazines.     And  after 
his  utmost  exertions  for  fifteen  days,  there  were  not 
above  four  days'  provisions   in  store,  nor   above  ten 


iii'i 

ill 

'HI 

352        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GEEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


m  i; 


bateaux  in  the  Hudson  river.    More  effective  measureg 
to  replenish    his  stores  seemed    necessary.     Informed 
that  the  Americans  had  a  large  quantity  of  these,  and 
of  cattle  and  horses  at  Bennington  and  in  the  vicinitv, 
he  resoived  to  send  a  detachment  of  his  army  thither 
to  capture  them.    Both  Philips  and  Eeidesel,  the  most 
experienced  of  his  generals,  were  opposed  to  the  meas- 
ure ;  but  Burgo^me,  actuated  by  an  overweening  con- 
fidence in  his  strength,  and  deceived  as  to  the  extent 
of   the    royalist    party   in    the    colonies,   dispatched 
Lieutenant-colonel   Baum   thither  with   five  hundred 
Hessians,   Canadians  and    tories,  and  one  hundred 
Indians.     Burgoyne's  instructions  to  the  commander 
of  the  expedition,  dated  August  9th,  1777,  declared 
the  objects  to  be  to  try  the  affections  of  the  countrv, 
to  disconcert  the   councils  of  the   enemy,  to   mount 
Reidesel's  dragoons,  to  complete  Peters'  corps  [of  ley 
alists,]  and  to  obtain  large  supplies  of  cattle,  horses  and 
carriages.     Baum  was  directed  "  to  scour  the  country 
from   Rockingham  to  Otter  creek,"  to  go  down  Con 
necticut  river  as  far  as  Brattleborough,  and  to  return 
by  the  great  road  to  Albany,  there  to  meet  General 
Burgoyne,  and  to  endeavor  to  make  the  country  believe 
his  corps  was  the  advanced  body  of  the  general's  army, 
who  was  to  cross  Connecticut  river,  and  proceed   to 
Boston.     He  ordered  "  that  all  oflRcers,  civil  and  mili- 
tary, acting  under  the  congress,  should  be  made  pris- 
oners."    Baum  was  also  instructed  "  to  tax  the  towns 
where  they  halted  with  such  articles  as  they  wanted, 
and  take  hostages  for  the  performance,  &c. ;  to  bring 
all  horses  fit  to  mount  the  dragoons  to  serve  as  battalion 
horses  for  the  troops,  with  as  many  saddles  and  bridles 


KOES. 

e  measures 

Informed 
these,  and 
le  vicinity, 
my  thither 
I,  the  most 

the  meas- 
3ning  con- 
the  extent 
lispatched 
!  hundred 
!  hundred 
)mmander 
,  declared 
J  country, 
to   mount 
jS  [of  ley- 
lorses  and 
e  country 
own  Con 

to  return 
b  General 
ry  believe 
al's  army, 
'oceed  to 
and  mili- 
lade  pris- 
he  towns 
■  wanted, 

to  bring 
battalion 
d  bridlea 


SKIRMISHING. 


353 


I 


as  could  be  found."  Burgoyne  stipulated  the  number 
of  horses  to  be  brought  at  thirteen  hundred  at  least, 
and  more  if  they  could  be  obtained,  and  directed  them 
to  be  "tied  in  strings  of  ten  each,  in  order  that  one 
man  might  lead  ten  horses." 

^  On  the  13th  of  August,  information  reached  General 
Stark,  that  a  party  of  Indians  attached  to  Baum's  force 
had  been  perceived  at  Cambridge,  about  twelve  miles 
north-west  from   Bennington.      He   immediately   de- 
tached  Lieutenant-colonel  Gregg   with   two   hundred 
men,  to  stop  their  march.     In  the  course  of  the  night, 
he  was  advised  by  express,  that  a  large  body  of *the' 
enemy,  with  a  train  of  artillery,  was  in  the  rear  of  the 
Indians,  in  full  march  for  Bennington.     He  immedi- 
ately rallied  his  brigade,  with  all  the  militia  which  had 
collected   at.  Bennington.      Orders  were  at  the  same 
time  dispatched  to  the  officer  in  command  of  Colonel 
Warner's  regiment  at  Manchester,  to  march  that  body 
of  men  down  to  Bennington,  and   an  animated   call 
was  made  upon  all  the  neighboring  militia.    These 
various  dispositions  were  carried  promptly  into  effect. 
On  the  morning  of  the  14th,  Stark  moved  forward 
to  the  support  of  Colonel  Gregg  with  the  entire  force 
under  his  command.    At  the  distance  of  four  or  five 
miles,  he  met  the  colonel  in  full  retreat,  and  the  enemy 
within   a  mile   of  him.    Stark  instantly  halted,  and 
drew  up  his  men  in  order  of  battle.    The  enemy,  per- 
ceiving  that  he  had  taken  a  stand,  immediately  came 
to  a  halt  on  very  advantageous  ground,  and  there  in- 
trenched  themselves.    Unable  to  draw  them  from  their 
position,  he  fell  back  for  a  mile,  leaving  only  a  small 

Dartv    to    Rln'rrm'cli    tirifk    4-V,^    — , ,.__        m  . 

"    "   ~ "    "^''"  ''"«='  ciiumy.     ims  was  Uone 


m 


■854       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEliOlDS. 


•'     ,! 


ir-f 


'"T 


with  considerable  effect.  Tiiirty  of  their  force,  with 
two  Indian  chiefs,  were  killed  or  wounded,  without 
any  loss  on  the  American  side. 

The  following  duy,  the  15th,  was  rainy,  and  nothing 
was  attempted  beyond  skirmishing  with  the  enemy. 
This  was  done  with  spirit,  and  the  Indians  began  to 
desert  the  army  of  Colonel  Baum,  "  because,"  as  they 
said,  "the  woods  were  filled  with  Yankees."  This  res- 
pite enabled  the  enemy  to  complete  their  breastworks, 
to  apprise  General  Burgoyne  of  their  situation,  and  to 
ask  for  reinforcements.  Colonel  Breyman,  with  an 
additional  body  of  German  troops,  was  immediately 
detached  to  the  assistance  of  Baum. 

During  the  night.  Colonel  Symonds,  with  a  body  o 
Berkshire  militia,  arrived.     Among  them  was  the  Eev. 
Mr.  Allen,  of  Pittsfield,  whose  bellicose  ardor  was  of 
the  most  glowing   kind.     Before  daylight,  and  while 
the  rain  was  yet  falling,  the  impatient  shepherd,  who 
had  many  of  his  flock  with  him,  went  to  Stark,  and 
said,  "General,  the   people  of  Berkshire   have  often 
been  summoned  to  the  field  without  being  allowed  to 
fight,  and,  if  you  do  not  now  give  them  a  chance,  they 
have  resolved  never  to  come  out  again."    "  Well,"  said 
Stark,  "  do  you  wish  to  march  now,  while  it  is  dark 
and  raining?"     "No,  not  just  this  moment,"  replied 
the  minister  of  peace.     "Then,"  said  the  general,  "if 
the  Lord  shall  once  more  give  us  sunshine,  and  I  do 
not  give  you  fighting  enough,  I'll  never  ask  you  to 
come  out  again."    Sunshine  did  indeed  come  with  the 
morrow,  for  at  the  opening  of  the  dawn,  the  clouds 
broke  away,  and   soon  all   nature  lay  smiling  in  the 
sunlight  of  a  clear  August  morning;   and  "fighting 


THE   WARLIKE    I'AKSOX. 


35/5 


enough"  was  also  given  to  tlie  par.,  n  and  hi;,  men,  for 
It  WU8  a  day  of  fierce  conflict.     Mr.  Allen  wae  not' the 
man  to  shrink  from  that  bloody  affray.     He  had  ar- 
dently espoused  the  cau«o  of  freedom,  and  when    in 
anticipation  of  a  battle  at  Bennington,  the  neighboring 
country  was  roused  to  arms,  he  used  his  influence  to 
increase  the  band  of  patriots,  and  urged  his  congrer^a- 
tion  to  hasten   to  the  service  of  their  country.     But 
the  company  which  was  raised  in  his  parish  werl,  from 
some  cause,  retarded  in  their  progress.     Hearing  of 
the  delay,  he  proceeded  immediately  to  join  them,''and 
accompanied  them  to  Bennington.    On  the  morning 
of  the  battle,  his  men  would  not  prepare  for  the  en- 
gagement until  he  had  prayed   to  the  God  of  armies 
"to  teach  their  hands  to  war  and  their  fingers  to  fight  " 
When    the   opposing    forces   were   about    advancing' 
toward   each  other,  Mr.  Allen,  insensible  to  fear  pro" 
ceeded  so  near  to  the  British  troops,  that  he  could  be 
distmctly  seen  and  heard,  and  then  called  upon  the 
enemy  to  prevent  the  eftusion  of  blood  by  laying  down 
their  arms !     He  was  answered  by  a  discharge  of  mu^ 
ketry,  and  the  log  upon  which  he  stood  was  pierced 
with  bullets.     Turning  calmly  to  a  friend  who  had  fol- 
lowed him  under  cover  of  the  breastwork  formed  bv 
the  log,  he  said,  "Kow  give  me  a  gun !  "  and  he  delib- 
erately fired  the  first  gun  from  the  American  ranks  on 
that  memorable  occasion. 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th,  Stark  made  prepara- 
tions  for  an  attack.  The  German  mercenaries,  with 
their  battery,  were  advantageously  posted  upon  a  rising 
.ground  at  a  bend  in  the  Walloomscoick  (a  branch  of  tlie 
floosac)  or.  its  north  hank.     Tho  ground  tell  oiT  to  the 


356 


KTHAN  AI.LEN  AND  OREFN-Mot:NTAIN  riEROKfl. 


i  ;    ' 


ir,:  II 


north  and  west,  a  circumstance  of  which  Stark  skillfully 
took    advantage.      Peters'   corps   of  tories   were    in- 
trenched on   the   other  side  of  the  stream,  in   lower 
ground,  and  nearly  in  front  of  the  German  battery. 
The  little  river  that  meanders  through  the  scene  of  the 
action,  is  fordable  in  till  places.     Stark  was  encamped 
upon  the  same  side  of  it  as  the  Germans,  but,  owing 
to  its  serpentine  course,  it  crossed  his  line  of  march 
twice  vn  his  way  to  their  position.    Their  post  was 
carefully  reconnoitered  at  a  mile's  distance,*  and  the 
plan  of  attack  was  arranged  in  the  following  manner  : 
Colonel  Nichols,  with  two  hundred  men,  was  detached 
to  attack  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  lei  t,  and  Colonel  Her- 
rick,  with  three  hundred  men,  to  fall  upon  the  rear  of 
their  right,  with  orders  to  form  a  junction  before  they 
made  the  assault.      Colonels  Hubbard   and  Stickney 
were  also  ordered  to  advance  with  two  hundred   men 
on  their  right  and  one  hundred  in  front,  to  divert  their 
attention  from  the  real  point  of  attack.    The  action 
commenced  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  on  the  rear 
of  the  enemy's  left,  when  Colonel  Nichols,  with  great 
precision,  carried  into  eifect  the   dispositions  of  the 
commander.   His  example  was  followed  by  every  other 
portion  of  the   little   army.     General   Stark   himself 
moved  forward  slowly  in  front,  till  he  neard  the  sound 
of  the  guns  from  Colonel  Nichols'  party,  when   he 


['hi 


•  Before  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  Stark  rode  forward  with 
Warner,  to  reconnoiter  the  enemy,  and  was  fired  at  by  a  cannon.  Stark 
exclaimed:  "Those  rascals  know  I  am  an  officer;  do  n't  you  see  they 
honor  me  with  a  big  gun  asa  salute  ?"  His  well  known  speech  to  his  men 
was  characteristic  :  "  Boys,  those  are  your  enemies,  the  red-coats  and  to- 
ries !    We  must  conquer  thorn,  or  to-night  Molly  Stark  will  be  a  widowt»» 


k  skillfully 
were    in- 
in  lower 
n  battery. 
3ene  of  the 
encamped 
but,  owing 
I  of  march 
•  post  was 
,*  and  the 
r  manner : 
i  detached 
lonel  Her- 
he  rear  of 
efore  thev 
Stickney 
3  red   men 
ivert  their 
he  action 
•n  the  rear 
ivith  great 
ns  of  the 
rery  other 
c   himself 
the  sound 
when   he 

onrnrd  with 
mon.  Stark 
Tou  see  they 
h  to  his  men 
:oat8  and  to- 
e  a  widow  (•* 


BATTr,E  OF  BENNINOTOW. 


357 

rushed  upon  the  tories,  and  i„  »  few  moments  the 
action  became  general.  "  It  lasted,"  says  Stark,  in  his 
oflicml  report,  "  two  hours,  and  was  the  hottest  I  ever 
eaw.    It  was  like  one  continued  dap  of  thunder."* 

«!.».•  "rirt  t°  r  I" "" '"'"'' '""' "" "''"'-'"''  -"-«"ir 

xxoiia  of  ,t  to  fte  Kov.  J„„c.  Da.ie  Butlsr :  ■■  We  were  marchod  round 

breastwork     It  h„rt  „„b«ly,  an,l  it  le^eoed  o„r  fear  of  the  sreat  ^,o, 

•  Me  north,  and  watch  for  Wrie.  on  their  way  .„  join  Baun,.  Prel,  ' 
wo«.w.„  com.ng  toward  „,,  who,  mi,uki„g  „  f„  ^,;„  J^^^ 
near  n«  ,„  e^pe.    We  di^rmed  then,  and  J,  .„,„,,  J^'.^ZI^ 

I  thou. It  I  could  k,ll,,„d  raore  than  once  cocked  ™y  „,n  but  the 
order,  were  „„t  .„  fire.  He  wa,  cooking  hi,  dinner,  and  n'ow  a  thl 
•hot  at  some  of  our  people.        • 

"  Between  two  and  three  o'clock  th.  battle  began.  The  Germans  li™l 
by  platoon.,  and  were  «,„„  hidden  by  .nroke.  ^Our  n,enfi^d  L™ 

•own  hook,  a,™i„g  wherever  thoy  «.w  a  f,a.h.  Pew  on  our  ,il  h^ 
eaher  bayoneu  or  cartridge..    A.  laat  ,  .tol.  away  fr„„  „y  ^  .*! 

tLwork  but  I  .„  T"  ""■"*■  °"'  """  "•"■««  <"-  «>• 

wolwe"' i!^  .r^"*"  ""^  "'"«^''"^  Hcian.  in  the 

-.™..e.ree,thinkiirigh?:i:':;:^-t,r,:r''  ■ 

ran  back  till  we  met  a  We  body  of  SfarV.«  T     7    skirmishers 

-n  .ta^ed  for  a  brook  I  L  ZJXL7::,T:^T  t'^^   ' 

s.:d^X^:r.i:ra™:rorr-;-- 

"  But  the  enemy  outflanked  us,  and  I  said  to  a  comrade  •  •  W«  mn». 
or  tl.Pv  will  haxTA  no  .     iT»  -.:.  .  , .     .„ ,         «"nra<le  •    We  must  run 
'   '"  =""^  ■     '  '^'^  Ji^ve  one  more  fire  first '     At 


358        ETHAN  AI.LEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


^Iftj 


f.i!'' 


P    f 


f  J 


The  Indians,  alarmed  at  the  prospect  of  being  inclosed 
between  the  parties  of  Nichols  and  Herriok,  fled  at 
the  commencement  of  the  action,  their  main  principle 
of  battle  array  being  to  contrive  or  to  encape  an  ara- 

that  rriomejif,  a  major  on  a  black  horse  rode  ulong  behind  iis,  shmiting  : 
'  Fi^ht  on,  boys  ;  reinforcements  clo«e  by,'  While  ho  was  yet  speaking, 
a  grape-shot  went  through  his  horse's  head  and  knocked  oiit  two  teeth. 
It  bled  a  good  deal,  but  the  major  kept  his  seat  and  spurred  on  to  en- 
courage others.  In  five  minutes  we  saw  Warner's  men  luirrying  to  help 
U8.  They  opened  right  and  left  of  us,  and  half  of  them  attacked  each  flank 
of  the  enemy,  and  beat  back  those  who  were  just  closing  around  us. 
Stark's  men  now  took  heart  and  stood  their  ground.  My  gun-barrel  was 
by  this  time  too  hot  to  hold,  so  I  seized  the  musket  of  a  dead  Hessian, 
in  whicli  my  bullets  went  down  easier  than  in  my  own.  Right  in  front 
wore  the  cannon,  and  seeing  an  officer  on  horseback  waving  his  sword  to 
the  artillerymen,  I  fired  at  him  twice.  His  horse  fell  He  cut  the  traces 
of  an  artillery  horse,  mounted  him  and  rode  off.  I  afterward  heard 
that  that  officer  was  Major  Skene. 

"  Soon  the  Go.rmans  ran  and  we  followed.  Many  of  them  threw  down 
their  guns  on  the  ground,  or  offered  them  to  us,  or  kneeled,  some  in  pud- 
dles of  water.  One  said  to  mo:  wir  aind  ein,  bruder I  I  pushed  hinr 
bchind  me  and  rushed  on.  All  those  near  me  did  so.  The  enemy  heai 
a  parley,  minded  to  give  l,/,  but  our  men  did  not  understand  it.  I  came 
to  one  wounded  man,  flat  on  the  ground,  crying  water  or  quarter.  I 
Snatched  his  sword  out  of  his  scabbard,  and,  while  I  ran  on  and  fired, 
carried  it  in  my  mouth,  thinWng  I  might  need  it  The  Germans  fled  by 
the  road  and  in  a  wootl  each  side  of  it.  Many  of  their  scabbards  caught 
in  the  brush  and  held  the  fugitives  till  we  seized  them.  We  chased 
them  till  dark.  Colonel  Johnston,  of  Haverhill,  wanted  to  chase  them 
all  night  Had  we  done  so,  we  might  have  mastered  them  all,  for  they 
stopped  within  three  miles  of  the  battle-field.  But  Stark,  saying  ha 
would  run  no  risk  of  spoiling  a  g;ood  day's  work,  ordsred  a  halt  and 
return  to  quarters. 

"I  was  coming  bjick,  when  ordered  by  Stark  himself,  who  knew 
me,  as  I  had  been  one  of  his  body-guaid  in  Canada,  to  help  draw  off  a 
field-piece,  I  told  him  I  was  worn  out  His  answer  was:  '  Do  n't  seera 
to  disobey;  take  hold,  and  if  you  can't  hold  out,  slip  away  in  the  dark,' 
Before  we  had  dragged  the  gun  far,  Warner  rode  near  us.    Some  one. 


BATTLE   OF   BENNINOTOIT. 


359 

bush  or  an  attack  in  the  rear     Th«  f.  • 

driven  over  the  riv..       T  ^''""^  "^^"^  ^^^^ 

-■■on  on  j.:'eirwi^;::'7:  - 

breactworV     "Ranw,        i       ,  ^'J'^cu  nom  their 

preserved  their  ranks  unbroken   and  '.       J™'"' 

leisuro      Rnf       .      ,"^  ^''^^*' ^'^^J' bad  constructed  at 
«        two  pieces  of  cannon,  arms  and  ammu- 

U-en  rode  away  wi,h„„t  ^yir,,  a  w  r  o„l  "  ''"'  """'"'  '"«■  "»" 
of  ehe  He,^a„,  whose  ,wo,d  I  ha,.  ^e„  .„  .,'  '""' ^"^  '  ""  ''°  """ 
baAe,.,  pack,  but  wae  obliged!  "t'"n  "T!;  '  '  *°  '■"■•="  » 
was  divided.    To  the  best  ZZ  ,  k        ^  "'"''"'^  ''"  ""  '""'y 

..« a„d  s„„e  odd  ce:'^iT;':rhTx-tt::t  r  r 

I  «w  thLen  ^H«  ^«tl  I^  r  '  ™'  '°  "°  ""="  ''"■^  *<■  "-A 
Not  more  thaa  a  Z  Z  wht  T  7' V  '  '"""''  ""'""="'  '"  ""^  >■*■ 
dead,  and  dipped  IX::!??,''  ":/""""  °"'"™  ^'""'"^ 
bin.  with  eartT  We  saw  0"^^.  '"""*'"»'' J« -^°™««' 

..i.ht     Afultwatd  wewent  to   R  r"'"'  "'"'  ■""■  """  •""  »" 

-.  .be,we.ed„w::;i:r:x.T,;i?L^^^^^^^^^^ 

.he  Ge™„„.,  next  the  India™,  .„d  hindmost  the  .ori*'. 


360       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEJ. -MOUNTAIN  IIKROES. 


I 


liition  in  perfect  order,  and  an  auxiliary  force  of  lu 
dians,  they  were  driven  from  their  intrenchments  by  » 
band  of  militia  just  brought  to  the  field,  poorly  armed, 
with  few  bayonets,  without  field-pieces,  and  with  little 
discipline.  The  superiority  of  i:umber8,  on  the  part 
of  the  Americans,  will,  when  these  things  are  consid- 
ered, hardly  be  thou  ^ht  to  abate  any  thing  from  the 
praise  due  to  the  conduct  of  the  commander,  or  the 
spirit  and  courage  of  his  men. 

The  enemy  being  driven  from  the  field,  the  militia 
dispersed  to  collect  the  plunder.  Scarcely  had  they 
done  so,  before  intelligence  was  brought,  that  a  large 
reinforcement  from  the  British  army  was  on  the  march, 
and  within  two  miles'  distance.  This  was  the  corps  of 
Colonel  Breyman,  already  mentioned,  which  had  been 
dispatched  by  General  Burgoyne,  on  receiving  from 
Baim  intelligence  of  his  position.  The  rain  of  the 
preceding  day  and  the  badness  of  the  roads  had  de- 
layed his  arrival ;  a  circumstance  which  exercised  an 
important  influence  on  the  fate  of  the  battle.  On  the 
approach  of  Breyman's  reinforcements,  the  flying  party 
of  Baum  made  a  rally,  and  the  fortune  of  the  day  was 
for  a  moment  in  suspense.  Stark  made  an  effort  to 
rally  the  militia  ;  but  happily  at  this  juncture  Colonel 
Wariior's  regiment  came  up  fresh  and  not  yet  engaged, 
and  fell  with  vigor  upon  tbo  enemy. 

This  regiment,  since  the  battle  fought  at  Hubbard- 
ton,  had  been  stationed  at  Manchester.  It  had  been 
reduced,  by  the  loss  sustained  in  that  action,  to  less 
tlian  two  hundred]  men.  Warner,  their  colonel,  as  we 
have  seen,  was  at  Bennington,  and  was  with  General 
Stark  on  the  14th.     The  regiment  at  Manchester  wa» 


Ui  { 


X 


J^' 


TFl 


ES. 

:e  of  lu 
nts  by  b 
y  armed, 
rith  little 
the  part 
}  coDsid- 
From  the 
ir,  or  the 

e  militia 

lad  they 

it  a  large 

e  march, 

corps  of 

lad  been 

ing  from 

in  of  the 

3  had  de- 

rcised  an 

On  the 

ing  party 

day  was 

effort  to 

3  Colonel 

engaged, 

lubbard- 
lad  been 
n,  to  less 
el,  as  we 
General 
?8ter  was 


Showing  the  rout« 

of  Crown  PoTnl 

SEN.  BURGOYKE, 
previous 

to  Am  surrender  at 

SARATOGA, 

Note.  TTie  route  of  the 
tmy  under  Gen.  Bur- 
goyne,  is  seen  by  the 
doubU  lint .- 


ft  J , 


iiMifiifi 


^H 


r<        :l 


I 


Elf 

i 
i  j 


,•  f^^-^^Z 


.*•     1/         V2« 


I'lv 


Warner's  regiment. 


361 


under  the  command  of  Major  Samuel  Safford.    In  con- 
sequence of  tne  absence  of  a  large  number  ol  the  men 
on  a  scouting  party,  and  other  causes,  it  wag  uot  pos- 
sible to  put  the  regiment  in  motion  on  the  14th  •  on 
the  15th  they  marched  for  Bennington.     Owing  to'  the 
heavy  rain  of  that  day,  it  was  near  midnight  when  the 
troops  arrived  within  a  mile  of  Bennington.    Fatigued 
with  the  march  of  the  preceding  day,  their  arms  and 
equipments  injured  by  tne  rain,  and  their  ammunition 
Bcanty,  a  considerable  portion  of  the  ensuing  day  was 
exbansted,  before  the  men  could  prepare  themselves 
for  battle.    The  firsi  assault  haa  been  made  in  the 
manner  described,  and  the  enemy  driven  from  the 
field,  before  this  regiment  jame  into  action.    At  the 
most  critical  moment  of  the  day,  when  the  arrival  of 
Breyman's   reinforcement  threatened  a  reverse  of  its 
good  fortune,  Warner's  troops  appeared  in  the  field. 
Stark,  with  what  men  Le  had  been  able  to  rally,  pushed 
forward  to  his  assistance,  and  the  battle  was  cortested 
with  great  obstinacy  on  both  sides  till  sunset,  when  the 
enemy  were  obliged  to  give  way.     General  Stark  pur- 
sued  their  flying  forces  till  dark,  and  was  obliged  to 
draw  off  his  men,  to  prevent  them  from  firing  upon 
each  other  under  cover  of  night.    "With  one  hour 
more  of  daylight,"  as  he  observes  in  his  oflicial  report, 
"  he  would  have  captured  ^he  whole  body."    The  fruits 
of  the   victory  were  four  pieces  of  brass  cannon,  «ev- 
eral  hundred  stand  of  arms,  eight  tass  drums,  a  quan- 
tity of  Gen  tan  broad-swords,  and  about  seven  hundred 
prisoD-rs.    Two  hundred   and  seven  were  ki'ud  upon 
the  spot ;  the  number  of  the  wounded  was  not  ascer 
tained.     Colonel  Baum  was   wounde<i  and    made   a 


m 


m 


•l-i 


li  J 


II    i"!!! 


Jl 


i     ' 


362        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  IIEKOES. 

prisoner,  but  shortly  after  died  of  his  wouuds.  The 
loss  of  the  Americans  was  thirty  killed  and  forty 
wounded.  The  general's  horse  was  killed  in  the 
action. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  bestowed  on  the  conduct 
of  those  who  gained  the  battle  of  Bennington,  oiScera 
and  men.     It  is  perhaps  the  most  conspicuous  example 
of  the  performance  by  militia  of  all  that  is  expected 
of  regular,  veteran  troops.     The  fortitude  and  resolu- 
tion with  which  the  lines  at  Bunker  Hill  were  main- 
tained, by   recent  recruits,   against  the  assault   of  a 
powerful  army   of  experienced  soldiers,  have  always 
been  regarded  with  admiration.    But   at  Bennington, 
the  hardy  yeomen  of  !N"ew  Hampshire,  Vermont  and 
Massachusetts,  many  of  them  fresh  from  the  plough 
and   unused  to   the  camp,   "advanced,"  as    General 
Stark  expressed  it  in  his  official  letter,  "  through  fire 
and  smoke,  and  mounted  breastworks  that  were  well 
fortified,  and  defended  with  cannon." 

Fortunately  for  the  success  of  the  battle.  Stark  was 
ably  seconded  by  the  officers  under  him  ;  every  pre- 
vious disposition  of  his  little  force  was  most  faithfully 
executed.  He  expresses  his  particular  obligation  to 
Colonels  "Warner  and  Herrick,  "whose  superior  skill 
was  of  great  service  to  him."  Indeed,  the  battle  was 
planned  and  fought  with  a  degree  of  military  talent 
and  science  which  would  have  done  no  discredit  to  any 
service  in  Europe.  A  higher  degree  of  d  iscipline  might 
have  enabled  the  general  to  check  the  eagerness  of  his 
men  to  possess  themselves  of  the  spoils  of  victory ;  but 
Jiis  abilitv,  even  in  that  moment  of  dispersion,  and  un- 
der the  flush  of  success,  to  meet  and  conquer  a  hostile 


,i'i"\'#* 


GENKKAL  8TAItK. 


atJ3 


reinforcenH3nt,  evinces  a  judgment  and  resource  not 
often  equaled  in  partisan  warfare. 

In  fact,  it  would  be   the  iieight  of  injustice  not   to 
recognize,  in  this  battle,  the  marks  of  the  master  mind 
of  the  leader,  which  makes  good  officers  and  good  sol- 
diers out  of  any  materials,  and  infuses  its  own  spirit 
into  all  that  surround  it.     This  brilliant  exploit  was  tlio 
work  of  Stark,  from  its  inception  to  its  achievement. 
His  popular  name  called  the  militia  together.      His 
resolute  will  obtained  him  a  separate  commission,-  at 
the  expense,  it  is  true,  of  a  wise  political  principle,— 
but  on  the  present  occasion,  with  the  happiest  effect. 
His  firmness  prevented  him  from  being  overruled  by 
the  influence  of  General   Lincoln,  which  would  have 
led  him,  with  his  troops,  across  the  Hudson.    How  few 
are  the  men  who,  in  t,uch  a  crisis,  would  not  merely  not 
have  sought,  but  actually  have  repudiated,  a  junction 
with  the  main  army !    How  few,  who  would  not  only 
have  desired,  but  actually  insisted  on  taking  the  respon- 
sibility of  separate  action !     Having  chosen  the  burden 
of  acting  alone,  he  acquitted  himself  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duty,  with  the  spirit   and  vigor  of  a  man  con- 
Bcious  of  ability   proportioned  to  the  crisis.     He  ad- 
vanced   against   the  enemy  with  promptitude  ;    sent 
forward  a  small  force  to  reconr  ^iter  and  measure  his 
strength  ;  chose  his  ground  deliberately  and  with  skill ; 
planned  and  tbught  the  battle  with  gallantry  and  suc- 
cess. 

The  consequences  of  this  battle  were  of  great  import- 
ance. It  not  only  cost  the  army  of  Burgoyne  more 
than  one  thousand  of  his  best  troops,  but  it  wholly 
deranged   the  plan  of  his  campaign,  and  material^ 


l!,        '!l 


I' 


iJ64       E'niAI^  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOONTAIN  HEROES. 

eontributed  to  the  loss  of  his  army.    By  advancing,  be- 
yond Ticonderoga,  his  communication  with  the  coimtry 
m  his  rear  was  interrupted.     He  relied  on  these  lateral 
excursions  to  keep  the  population  in  alarm,  and  fo 
prevent  their  flocking  to  Gates.     He  also  depended  oa 
procuring  his  supplies  by  such  inroads  into  the  coun- 
try.     Ihe  catastrophe  of  Baum's  expedition,  by  which 
he  hoped  to  furnish  himself  with  an  ample  store  of  pro- 
visions collected  at  Bennington,  disappointed  that  ex- 
pectation,  and   compelled  him   to  halt  till  he  could 
procure  them  in  detail  from  other  quarters,  and  thus 
retarded   his   advance   toward   Albany  for  a  month, 
during  all  which  time  the  militia  poured  to  the  stand- 
ard  of  General  Gates,  and  placed  him  in  a  condition 
to  compel  the  surrender  of  the  British  army.* 

Five  days  after  the  battle  of  Bennington,  congress 
being  still  ignorant  of  the  transaction,  a  resolution  was 
introduced  to  censure  Stark  for  not  submitting  to  the 
regulations  of  the  continental  army,  and  refusing  obe- 
dience to  its  commander.     Thereupon,  a  member  from 
Ne^Y  Hampshire  rose  and  expressed  the  belief  that  the 
hrst  battle  they  should  hear  of  at  the  north  would  be 
fought  by  Stark  and  the  troops  under  his  command 
and  that  he  was  not  afraid  to  stake  his  life  or  his  honor 
on  a  wager  that  Stark's  men  would  do  as  much  as  any 
equal  number  of  troops  in  defense  of  their  country. 
In  a  letter  home,  that  gentleman  said  :     "  Judge  of  my 
feelings  when  the  very  next  day  I  had  a  confirmation 
of  all  I  had   asserted,  by  an  express  from   Schuvler 
detailing   the   defeat   of  Baum  and    Breyman."    Tl.e 
resolution  of  censure  was  immediately  changed  to  one 

•  See  Life  of  Stark  by  Edward  EvtrotL. 


II 


0K8. 

mcing  be- 
e  country 
Bse  lateral 
1,  and  to 
lended  on 
the  coun- 
by  which 
'e  of  pro- 
I.  that  ex- 
he   could 
and  thus 
I  month, 
le  stand- 
Joudition 

congress 
tion  was 
g  to  the    » 
ing  obe- 
jer  from 
that  the 
ould  be 
mraand, 
is  honor 
t  as  any 
country, 
e  of  my 
rmatioii 
ihuvler, 
,"    The 
to  one 


burooyne's  repeat. 


SU 


of  thanks  accompanied  with  the  appointment  of  Stark 
to  be  a  brigadier-general  in  the  army  of  the  Unitc^d 
fetates. 

If  Burgoyne  was  astonished  when  an  antagonist  ho 
had  never  heard  of  thus  unexpectedly  defeated  a  body 
ot  h,s  best  troops,  what  would  he  have  thought  had  he 
known  that  antagonist's  history  ?_  for,  twenty-live 
years  before,  Stark  had  been  a  captive  in  Canada,  and 

ZZTT;'  '"'  "^  '"'""^  P-^  -»«•  o-  hundred 
dollar^!  "The  repulse  on  the  banks  of  the  Walloom- 
8coik,    says  an  eloquent  Vermonter,*  "  plucked  oat  the 

7rtZ\^"^T:  ^"^  """  "^"-"'■g'^  fi°i«''^d  arch, 
so  that    he  whole  structure  cracked,  crumbled   by 
piecemeal,  tottered  and  fell,  a  wreck  of  rnin,  never  to 
r.se  aga,n.'     The  result  of  the  action  was  in  exact  J. 
cordance  w.th  the  prophetic  wish  expressed  by  Wash- 
.ngton  ,n  n.s   letter  to  Schuyler,   written  only  a  few 
days  previous.     Washington,  on  hearing  the  ioyful 
.d,ngs  of  Stark's  victory,  said.  "  one  more'such  sZk 
and  we  shall  have  no  great  cause  for  anxiety  as  to  the 
future  designs  of  Britain," 

The  revolution  wrought  by  this  event,  in  Burgoyne's 
fee  mgs,  is  betrayed  by  the  contrast  between  his  lett^s 
just  l,otore  and  just  after  the  expedition.  In  the  former 
he  writ^  to  the  leader  of  the  corps  sent  against  Ver- 
mont :  Mount  your  dragoons,  send  me  thirteen  hund- 
red horses,  seize  Bennington,  cross  the  mountains  to 
Eochngham  and  Brattleborough,  try  the  affections 
of  the  country,  take  hostages,  and  meet  me  a  fortnight 
hence  m  Albany."  Four  days  afier  the  battle  he 
•  Jame.  Davio  BulJe,,  from  whose  Address  on  il,e  Battle  of  B™„i, 


if, 


366 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


!  (     il- 


U      1 


V 


writes  to  England :  "  The  Hampshire  Grants  in  partic 

ast  war,  now  abonnds  in  the  most  active  and  rebel- 
■ous  race  on  the  continent,  and  hangs  like  a  gather^ 

rating  the  .nfluence  of  Stark's  success.  Within  three 
da^s  thereafter,  Schnjler  wrote  to  Stark :  "  Th  „ S 
v.etory  you  have  gained,  and  the  severe  loss  he  enfn 

a^r^r-^'wir ""  ip^^-'-s'-'-osrsi. 

V  it^biiit.        Within  a  week   n    honr?  K,-n 
at  Bo.  o,,  .^,„^  ^^  ^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^^^^^  ^^  ^.      ed 

triumph  ,  the  news  was  there  proclaimed  by  eriers  and 
«ng  out  t  om  all  the  bells.    Clinton   wrote    Tgince 

,    '  "'^  '<=^'P"'g  '">s  ceased  ;  indeed,  I  do  not  an^re 
tend  any  great  danger  from  the  fnt  ,r»       " "'"PP'^- 
Mr.  Burgoyne."     Wa'hingt  n,  writ  ^1  "  ZT""'  "' 

%h  in  h  ,,,  ^^^  Engi;„;  "jii^-rgr::: 

stroke  struck  by  Stark,  would  entirely  crush  Burgoyne 

Seof  F»:s\       '""■^T'"'"  --hed,  rais!d' he 
siege  of  Fort  Stanwix,  and  broke  his  right  win,.     All 

this  was  within  one  week  after  Baum'and  B^ymtn 

'•ere  the  astonishment  of  everv  oZ     7  Americans  fought, 

vinccd,  the.  are  not  that  col?  ™  ""•'  ""^  '"°""'  '""J"  «>- 

.hen,,  incapable  „T  ,11",.     '  ?     ™™'  '"  '""'  '""'"'°  ■"'Sined 

o»..%h.Vehin;r:ir;"„rzrrt"r'"-™''' 

enter  a,  heartily  i„t„  an  cause  of  rebellion    I  a„    ,    .         .  ^'°'""'" 
a  very  d.^cult  task  to  subdue  them     f  T  ""  "'""  ""''  " 

mode,  ef  f„„ishin.  men  a      s,,;^  i.    irtir  "'  °"  "'  '"'""' 
Pleasure,  become  a  religion.  ™  ,  Provinces,  in  some 

«...  their  cer^y  artf:";;:  j:::;,.;;^^;:' '';:  r-  f-'r-"- 

wnMiKG  hpuit  among  f!,,,i,.  fiocks" 


mm-iii 


ROES. 

i  in  partic- 
•wn  in  tho 
ind  rebel- 
gathering 
i'om  over- 
hin  three 
fae  Bignal 
he  enem^'- 
nost  sain- 
ts  issued 
5f  Start's 
'iers,  and 
"Since 
6n  heard 
)t  appre- 
itions  of 
am,  was 
le  great 
rgoyne ; 
sed  the 
g.    All 
rejman 


a  series 
)ubli8he(l, 
3  fought, 
uUy  con- 
imagined 
37  would 
)i'ovinces 
11  find  it 

varioua 
iji  soma 
sntLiisi- 


SPOILS  AT  BENNINGTON.  ^g^ 

The  spoils  taken  bv  SfarV  aft^    1  •      • 

and  the  prize-money  given  to  eac/  7m  "'' 

dollars.    Betbre  thns'dividi^g  t,:  ^    st^T  '" 
certain  articles  to  h«  ...o.     .^       ^      '  ^^^''^  selected 

-amejy:  for  each  state,  one  Hes  fan  !„  ^'Tl'''°'''' 

cbusetts  is  still  suspended    in  fl  °  ^^''''- 

Boston.     On,,  a  porZ  ::.    Lu     ;:~r  "^  "' 
state  is  preserved,  while  that  given        V  °™ 

tn  V  tt"  ""  '"*■  """^  ^^'"^  -™  '»  the  lelit 
lU-ie  by  the  representative  from  Pownoi  „    i  i  • 

still  hangs  in  the  bar-room  o"  a  Tn ''  f  "  '^°'^ 
Baum's  maps  were  long  usTd  bv^fnt  ^  "  "'™''"- 
his  iog-cabin     Tl,«     ,^,  "^^  ^'^^  as  curtains  in 

in  the'a  hi  em!nt  oT  •  T"'"  "'  ^'"'^'^  ""S^Oo. 
struction  of  BuTo  .1.    ""'"^  '"•"■  ^^"^^^^  «'"  <1- 

dollars;  b    .^S'  „  thTT'  ""  "'^'^-^'^  "'"'-"^ 

-ney,  on.y'two  ^h^l^a^r  ^rlr  ""T^ 
congress.  actually  paid  bj 

The  four  pieces  of  cannon  taken  bv  9f n  i      .  -n 
nington  were  of   Dn-'  "^      ""'^  ^^  ^^^- 

-e  ot    jjiucn    manufacture.      They   were 


^ 


fcij 


if 


»    '!   '■ 


l!ii 


368       KTIIAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  IIEROKB. 

alternately  in  the   hands  of  the  British  and  Americans 
during  the  Ijattle.     Their  liistory  is  somewhat  singular. 
After  the  war,  the  following  inscription  was  placed 
upon  them:     "Taken   from  the  Germans  at  Benning- 
ton, August  IGth,  1777."    Thirty-five  yeai-s  after«/ard 
they  were  in  the  park  of  artillery  which  Hull  surren 
dered  with  his  army  to   the  British  at  Detroit.     Tlie 
British  fired  their  evening  salute  with  them,  and  it  was 
determined,  and  prepiuations  were  made,  to  have  their 
history  continued,  by  engraving  upon  them  the  inscrip- 
tion,  "Retaken  from  the   Americans,  August    lOth, 
1812."     But  before  this  plan  was  executed,  the  cannon 
were  again  taken  from  the  British  at  the  capture  of 
Fort  George,  and  afterward  removed  to  the  arsenal  at 
Washington,   where   they  remained  many  years  un- 
claimed and  forgotten  by  the  Yermonters,  to  whom 
they  belonged.     They  were  finally  discovered  by  the 
Hon.  Henry  Stevens,  the  indefatigable  Vermont  an- 
tiquary, while    at  Washington  in    pursuit    of  docu- 
ments connected  with  the  early  history  of  his  native 
state,  and  upon  his  recommendation  were  claimed  by 
Vermont,  and  cheerfully  restored  by  congress.     They 
now  grace  the  principal  hall  of  the  Vermont  state- 
house,  at  Montpelier  —  a  memento  of  the  heroic  T)a- 
triotism  of  the  Green-Mountain  Boys  of  '76. 

The  German  and  British  prisoners  were  conducted 
to  Bennington,  after  the  battle,  and  shut  up  in  the 
meeting-house.  As  soon  as  the  necessary  arrano-e- 
ments  could  be  made,  they  were  removed  to  a  place  of 
greater  security  in  Massachusetts.  The  iories  beinw 
held  in  special  abhorrence,  were  treated  with  consider- 
able severity.    They  were   bound   two  and  two,  like 


I 


KB. 

nericans 
lingular. 
I  placed 
3eniiing- 
ftei'w/ard 

surren 
it.     T)ie 
d  it  was 
ive  their 

inscrijD- 
it    lOtb, 

cannon 
)tiire  of 
senal  at 
ars  11  n- 

wliora 

bv  the 
ont  au- 
:'  docu- 

native 

ned  hy 

They 

t  state- 

3ic  j)a- 

ducted 
in  the 
rrange- 
lace  of 
being 
nsider- 
0,  like 


A   LORD   IN    LIMliO. 


3fi9 


^laves  m  a  cofflc,  and  led  hy  persons  on  i.orseb.ck 
T  e  won^en  of  Bennington  very  cheerful l/^S 
aihe:r  bed-ropes  to  tie  the  prisoners  with/The     o 

o^tllt^^^^^^^  "^^^t"^  -  the,passed.'^;t 
or  tno  Lntish  officers  roughly  addressed   a  very  old 

you  look  more  like  lambs."  '         ^ 

The  ])ri8oners  taken  at  Bennino-fnn  « 
joined  by  the  whole  of  B^oS^r  T  f  ^ 
fallen  into  the  hands  of  Gate7  Thev  ^'  T  ,"  ^'^ 
Cambridge,  near  Boston.  A  BriS'offlr  f "  '" 
-ong  the  prisonerMolls  the'^r^^^eT; 
their  journey  thither     Tho  Br^-f.^  i  '^"ecaote  ot 

he  alludes  to'^the  Kew-EnXnTn/  , """"'"  '"  "'™'' 

in   consideration  of  hfs  tfortLf   '  ""'^ """  '^'"^ 
them     "  Th„  1  ,       nnfortunate  position  amon.^ 

them.  The  lower  class  of  the  New-EnWanders  "  savt 
he,"are  .mpertinently  curious  and  innuisi^.e  71 
house  where  Lord  Kapier  was  quartered  wUh'oor 
officers,  a  number,  of  the  inhabitants  flock  d  To  see  a 
lord,  .magmmg  he  must  ue  something  more  than  1 
they  were  continually  looting  in  at^the  wi  dowaTj 

;-igotrt\rr:orr:rf%rr^^^ 

he    be?'     His   Iordship,"who'r^;hT-;  '^ 

over  mire,  and  scarcel/dry  from^e  h       ''   ""'   "" 
had    fallen    during   the    dL  \      ^^  "'"  """^ 

an  officer  named^Kel  7:,,rttt''^r    *? 

,    vviju^e  iWTu  tor  Wit  and 


:i    '  I 


ill! 


HI        !l 


ti        ! 


.%.  "^  ^o. 


SMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


y 


■^^f 


■^, 


w.. 


^ 


¥a 


1.0 


I.I 


2.5 


I  IIM    ,22 

!ir  1^  |||||?.o 


11:25  i  1.4 


1.8 


1.6 


-c^l 


^: 


y/^^f 


^y 


w 


yf 


Fhotographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


^ 


^\^ 


:i>^ 


N> 


% 


^ 

Ti 


55>:v"^o 


;\ 


-^^Sk^fi 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


%^ 


<l. 


V 


^t,^ 


:;i:i' 


370        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  IIKIiOES. 

jocularity  was  well  hnown  to  the  army.  Kemmis  accor 
dingly  got  up,  and  pointing  to  his  lordship,  in  a  voice 
and  manner  as  if  he  was  herald-at-arms,  informed  them 
that '  that  was  the  Eight  Honorable  Francis  Lord  Na- 
pier, (fee,  (fee,  (fee.,'  going  through   all  his   lordship's 
titles,  with  a  whole   catalogue  of  additions  ;  after  he 
had  finished,  the  women  looked  very  attentively  at  his 
lordship,  and  while  he   and  the  other  officers  were 
laughing  at  the  adroitness  of  Kemmis,  the  women  got 
up,  and  one  of  them  lifting  up  her  hands  and  eyes  to 
heaven,  with  great  astonishment,  exclaimed,  '  Well,  for 
my  part,  if  that  be  a  lord,  I   never  desire  to  see  any 
other  lord  but  the  Lord  Jehovah,'  and  instantly  left 
the  room." 

The  same  officer  also  relates  the  following  affecting 
circumstance  :  "  A  few  days  since,  walking  out  with 
some  officers,  we  stopped  at  a  house  to  purchase  vege- 
tables ;  while  the  other  officers  were  bargaining  with 
the  woman  of  the  house,  I  observed  an  elderly  woman 
sitting  by  the  fire,  who  was  continually  eyeing  us,  and 
every  now  and  then  shedding  a  tear.    Just  as  we  were 
leaving  the  house  she  got  up,  and  bursting  into  tears, 
said,  '  Gentlemen,  \yill  you  let  a  poor,  distracted  wo- 
man speak  a  word  to  you  before  you  go? '    We,  as  vou 
might  naturally  imagine,  were  all  astonished,  and  upon 
inquiring  what  she   wanted,  with  the  most  poignant 
grief  and  sobbing,  as  if  her  heart  was  on  the  point  of 
breaking,  asked  if  any  of  us  knew  her  son.  Colonel 
Francis,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Hubbardton  ? 
Several  of  us  informed  her,  that  we  had  seen  him  after 
he  was  dead.     She  then  inquired  about  his  pocket-book, 
and  if  any  ol  his  papers  were  safe,  as  some  related  to 


eoES. 

mis  accor- 
in  a  voice 
med  them 
Lord  Na- 
lord  ship's 
;  after  he 
ely  at  his 
sers  were 
omen  got 
d  eyes  to 
Wei],  for 
'  see  any 
;antly  left 

affecting 
out  with 
ase  vege- 
ling  with 
y  woman 
»  us,  and 

we  were 
ito  tears, 
LCted  wo- 
e,  as  you 
ind  upon 
poignant 
point  of 

Colonel 
)ardton  ? 
lim  after 
:et-book, 
ilated  to 


THE   SOLDIERS   MOTHER.  gj-j 

they  we  e  either  I„?      ^'^^'''-^ook,  he  was  fearfal 

-a:;=e7"i:iX-r.r 

^ng  It  It  IS  impossible  to  describe  the  joy  and  .Z^T'. 
was  depict'^d  in  hor.  «^  .  ^ '"^^  joj  ana  grief  that 
,..    ,  ^P^^c.a  m  her  countenance :  I  never  in  aii 

-fe,  beheld  such  ^  strength  ot  ,^.C;Zl^,"'^ 

height ;  we  promised  f!  u    "^      ^"^  ^^expressible 

hJ  Y  P  ^^^  ^^  '^^^ch  after  the  papers  an  ?  T 
believe,  at  that  moment,  could  have  hazarded  iS  itsllf 
to  have  procured  them."  "^^iraea  lite  itself 

The  severe  measures  of  General    T^n. 
roused  the  resentment  anr^      !  ^^^goyne  had 

tion;  and  the         '^  "'"^  *'"'"' '=«"™ge  "nd  amma- 

make  a  div/  •  t^'  ^^  ^'°^^^°  determined  to 

Hmself trr"  ^^^^^  ^^--hed 

mmselt  with  the  militia  that  had    ioined   him    f 

Manchester  to  Pawlet     Frnm  fi,  ^^     '  ^''''^ 

-th.tee.h.he.:orc:,orBr.^K: 


51 


'if 


372        ETHAN  ALI^N  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

hundred  men  to  the  landing  at  Lake  George,  to  destroy 
the  British  stores,  and  to  release  the  American  prison- 
ers that  had  been  collected  at  that   place.    Colonel 
Johnson  was  dispatched  with  the  same  number  of  men 
to  Mount  Independence.    Johnson  was  to  amuse  and 
alarm  the  enemy  at  the  north  end  of  Lake  George, 
while  Brown  was  executing  the  business  at  the  south 
end.    If  circumstances  and  opportunity  favored,  they 
were  to  join  their  troops,  and  the  one  was  to  attack 
Ticonderoga,  and  the  other  Mount  Independence ;  but 
they  were  not  to  risk  the  loss  of  many  men  in  these 
attempts.     The  same  number  of  men  were  also  sent  on 
under  Colonel  Woodbridge,  to  Skenesborough ;  thence 
to  Fort  Anne,  and  so  on  to  Fort  Edward.    The  design 
was  to  alarm  and  divide  the  British  forces  and  atten- 
tion, by  assaulting  all  their  outposts  and  stations  at 
the  same  time.     With  so  much  secrecy  and  address 
were  these  operations  conducted,  that  by  September 
the  eighteenth.  Brown  had  eifectually  surprised  all  the 
outposts  between  the  landing-place  at  the  north  end 
of  Lake  George,  and  the  body  of  the  fortress  a-t  Ticon- 
deroga.   Mount  Defiance,  Mount  Hope,  the  "  French 
lines,"  and  a  block-house,  with  two  hundred  bateaux,  an 
armed  sloop,  and  several  gun-boats,  were  almost  in- 
stantly taken.     Four  companies  of  foot,  with  nearly  an 
equal  number  of  Canadians,  and  many  of  the  officers 
and  crews  of  the  vessels,  amounting  in  the  whole  to 
two  hundred  and  ninety-three,  were  made  prisoners  ; 
and  at  the  same  time  they  set  at  liberty  one  hundred 
Americans,  who  had  been  made  prisoners,  and  were 
confined  in  some  of  those  works.    Encouraged  by  this 
success,  they  summoned  General   Pov/el,  the  British 


m  m 


S0E8. 

,  to  destroy 
;an  prison- 
.    ColoDel 
ber  of  men 
imuse  and 
:e  George, 
the  south 
ored,  they 
to  attack 
ence;  but 
I  in  these 
80  sent  on 
:h ;  thence 
'he  design 
md  atten- 
tations  at 
i  address 
leptembep 
ed  aii  the 
north  end 
at  Ticon- 
"  French 
Lteaux,  an 
ilmost  in- 
aearly  an 
e  officers 
whole  to 
risoners  ; 
hundred 
md  were 
d  by  this 
i  British 


MOVEMENTS  OF  BDRGOYNE.  S73 

commander  at  Ticonderoga,  to  surrender  that  fortress  • 
but  after  maneuvering  four  days,  they  found  they  w  re' 
wholiy  unable  to  attempt  the  works  either  at  Sond 
roga  or  Mount  Independence;  abandoning  the  desl„ 
they  returned  in  safety  to  Lincoln's  camp     By  Til 

^Z^^rr-^ '''  ^--^--  '^<^  atr^ 
ber  ZT-  ^^'''  '"P^"'^^   a  considerable  num- 

mm  cney  Had  left  when  they  abandoned 

aboil'Tf';   ""r™'   ^"■•^''y""''  ■^--g   collected 
about  thirty  days'  provisions,  and  thrown  a  bridge  of    , 

and  14th  of  September,  and  encamped  on  the  heights 
and  pla,ns  of  Saratoga.  General  Gatea,  who  haT^ 
cen  ly  taken  the  chief  command  of  the  northern  Z 
partment  of  the  American  army,  advanced  towa:d  the 
Bnt  sh,  and  encamped  three  miles  above  Stillwater 
On  the  n,ght  of  the  17th,  Bnrgoyne  encamped  with  n 

the  19th  advanced  m  full  force  against  it.    The  nVht 
v^mgwa.  commanded  by  General  Burgoyne,  and  T 
ered  by  General  Fraser  and  Colonel  Breyman  with  the 
grenadiers  and  light  infantry,  who  were  posted  aiol 
some  h,gh  grounds  on  the  right.     The  front  and  flanki 
were  covered  by  Indians,  provincials,  and  CanadLns! 
the  left  wmg  and  artillery  were  commanded  by  Maior- 
generals  Phillips  and  Eeidesol,  who  proceeded  al, 
he  great  road.    Colonel  Morgan,  who  was  detached 
to  observe  their  motions,  and  to  harass  them  as  they 
advanced,  soon  fell  in  with  their  pickets  in  front  of 


m 


ii '' 


374       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEEOES. 

their  right  wing,  attacked  them  sharply,  and  drove 
them  in.     A  strong  corps  was  brought  up  to  support 
them,  and,  after  a  severe  encounter,  Morgan  was  com- 
pelled to  give  way;  but  a  regiment  was  ordered  to  as- 
sist him,  and  the  action  became  more  general.    The 
commanders  on  both  sides  supported  and  reinforced 
their  respective  parties;  and  about  four  o'clock,  Arnold, 
with  nine  continental  regiments  and  Morgan's  corpsj 
was  completely  engaged  with  the  whole  right  wing  of 
the  British  army.    The  engagement  began  at  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  continued  till  after  sun- 
set,  when  the  Americans  thought  proper  to  retire,  and 
leave  the  British  masters  of  the  field  of  battle.    The 
loss  on  each  side  was  nearly  equal,  six  hundred  being 
killed  and  wounded  on  the  part  of  the  British,  and  the 
same  number  on  the  side  of  the  Americans.    No  ad- 
vantages  resulted  to  the  British  troops  from  i:hi8  en- 
counter ;  while  the  conduct  of  the  Americans  fully 
convinced  every  one  that  they  were  able  to  sustain  an 
attack  in  open  plains  with  the  intrepidity,  the  spirit, 
and  the  coolness  of  veterans.    For  four  hours  they 
maintained  a  contest  hand  to  hand  ;  and  when  they 
retired,  it  was  not  because  they  were  conquered,  but 
beca    '.e  the  approach  of  night  made  a  retreat  to  their 
camp  absolutely  necessary.*    Both  armies  lay  some 

•  In  a  history  of  Bnrgoyne's  campaign,  written  by  an  officer  of  his 
army,  the  following  examples  of  the  heroism  and  devoted  patriotism  of 
the  Americans  are  given.  A  soldier  who  had  been  badly  wounded  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  and  6arried  before  General  Fraser  who 
made  inquiries  of  him  in  regard  to  the  condition  of  the  American  army. 
"  But  he  would  give  no  answer  to  any  question,"  says  the  British  officer 
"and  behaved  in  the  most  undaunted  manner.  The  general,  imagining 
that  by  shewing  him  attention  he  might  gain  some  information  from 


IS 


EROES. 

and  drove 
3  to  support 
m  was  com- 
dered  to  as- 
neral.     The 

reinforced 
ck,  Arnold, 
jan's  corps, 
fht  wing  of 
n  at  three 

after  sun- 
retire,  and 
ittle.    The 
[red  being 
ih,  and  the 
I.    No  ad- 
tn  ijhis  en- 
cans  fully 
sustain  an 
the  spirit, 
ours  they 
^hen  they 
lered,  but 
it  to  their 
lay  some 

officer  of  his 
patriotism  of 
mounded  was 
Fraser,  who 
rican  army, 
•itish  officer, 
I,  imaginingf 
lation  from 


THE  SPIRFT  OP   76.  o^* 

..         .  <»<5 

.me  m  8ight  of  each  other,  each  fortifying  its  camn  in 

•tken  I  .ha„  i,,,  .j^   i^™"'  •  ''•*'»,  •"  «?!■«<■  with  great  «,„„«, 

'niependence  to  .he  AtTI      ot^^."  iCt""":'""""'^'"'"^ 
to  show  how  cheerfuUy  ,„me  „f  T        „  *'"  "'■''"^''"oe, 

«f  .hi,  WIte  idol  V;r„rthe       '""'■'* '™'°''"-" 
«.»aU7  died  t..  next  „„,„,„".        ™"  '  "»fl- disposition,  that  he 

wor,L':::LT„:tr'i:rr  '-■ "-  -*- 

nandod  by  General  GaJ  F,!^  *'  *'°°"'=»°  ""^  "«  «■".- 

I..",  aa  to  the  exact  situation  of  the  Ameri  J,  ™""='"«-'J'  '"f»™ 

up  directly;  the  .oldier,  with  ^' ^    "    "        '' *"  """" ''"^  ''"' 

"  Then  you  „„,.H,„g„,XjtuIhT'*'  ''"°""'  ™P''«^ 
fl.re.twasn„texecut«l    '     "  "'"  "o' """^y  ™7  "oantr..-.    Fmser'a 

While  the  British  camn  wa«  on  .k.       ...    ■ . 
n^ber  ofthe  office.-  hor^we^  l!  W        f."'  "'  ""  '''*  '"-"'•  « 
expert  swimmer  among  thTAloricl'  T '°       '°'^°^'  '"  '"^-  *" 
Of  the  Hndson.  obtain:,  ;r:™r  L'  ;''rrr:n°^  r  ""'  '""  "" 
boraes.    Ho  swam  the  rirer  seized  «„J  T!  P'™  "^  "'  "=. 

i"  a  few  momenta  was  recr^^T:!!  1  f  "  '"''  ""^  ^'"*"^-  '"^ 

bulleta  from  a  party  of  22      u  "°^'™'^'  ''"i"' «  ™"«7  -f 

'b»  capuin  that  *.  „„gh  to  hte  a":™™  M  '"  '"  '""'"'■  '^'""« 
Again  the  adventurous  soldierwl  ^  "de  as  well  as  a  priyato. 

P«i  With  .„  exceedin;;;:::  ::r  tr  :*  -'-r  "■ 

hw  commander.  "*'  *"°  presented  it  to 


III.  -'' 


!»! 


IT"!'  --!'?■ 


370       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  ORKEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

great  numbers ;  the  American  a  ray  had  become  so 
augmented  as  to  render  him  diffident  of  making  good 
his  retreat ;  and,  to  aggravate  his  distress,  no  intelli- 
gence had  yet  been  received  of  the  approach  of  Gen- 
eral Clinton,  or  of  any  diversion  in  hia  favor  from 
New  York.     In  this  exigency,  General  Burgoyne  re- 
solved   to  examine  the  possibility  of  dislodging  the 
Americans  from  their  posts  on  the  letl,  by  which  means 
he  would  be  enabled  to  retrea-t  to  the  lakes.     For  this 
purpose  he  drew  out  fifteen  hundred  men,  whom  he 
headed  himself,  attended  by  Generals  Phillips,  Reide- 
Bel  and  Fraser.    This  detachment  had  scarcely  formed, 
within  less  than  half  a  mile  of  the  American  intrench- 
ments,  when  they  made  a  furious  attack,  which,  though 
bravely  resisted,  was  decidedly  to  the  advantage  of  the 
assailants.     General  Burgoyne  now  became  convinced 
that  it  was  impossible  to  conduct  any  further  offensive 
operations,  and  endeavored  to  make  good  his  retreat 
to    Fort   George.     Artificers   were    accordingly  dis- 
patched, under  a  strong  escort,  to  repair  the  bridges, 
and  open  the  roads,  but  tbey  ^ero  compelled  to  make 
a  precipitate  retreat.    The  situation  of  his  army  be- 
coming every  hour  more  hazardous,  he  resolved  to 
attempt    a  retreat  by  night  to  Fort   Edward;    but 
even  this  retrograde  movement  was  rendered  imprao- 
ticable.    While  the  army  was  preparing  to  march,  in 
telligence  was  received  that  the  Americans  had  already 
possessed  themselves  of  the  fort,  and  that  they  were 
well  provided  with  artillery.     No  avenue  to  escape 
now  appeared.     Incessant  toil  and  continual  engao-e- 
ments  had  worn  down  the  British  array;  its  provisicTna 
were  nearly  exhausted,  and  there  were  no  means  of 


CROES. 

become  so 
aking  good 
3,  no  intelli- 
ich  of  Gen- 
favor  from 
irgoyne  re- 
odging  the 
hich  means 
3.  For  this 
1,  whom  he 
lips,  Reide- 
ely  formed, 
n  intrench- 
ich,  though 
itage  of  the 

convinced 
jr  offensive 
his  retreat 
lingly  dis- 
e  bridges, 
id  to  make 

army  bc- 
esolved  to 
rard ;    but 
d  imprao- 
march,  iu 
id  already 
they  were 
to  escape 
il  engage- 
provisions 
means  of 


fiORRENDF-:    OP  BURGOTNE.  37^ 

procuring  a  H.,p2>Iy;  while  the  American  am.v      .  •  t. 

rB^rrf  r  "'^^"^  --  ~  ^ 

conncl  of  war;  and  it  was  nnanimouajy  resolved  to 
enter  ,nto  a  convention  with  General  Gates.    Poling 
nanea  were  so,n  settled,  and  the  royal  armv  to  ,7 
number  of  five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  fi'ft'": 
rendered  prisoners  of  war.  ^' 

The  capture  of  an  entire  army  was  i„«fi„  •  ^ 
as  an  event  that  must  essentiallv  affrthe!^  ^Tf 
tween  Great  Britain  and  Am;^?  anj  wT?"  ^ 
cited  the  hiffhest  iov  „^        .,     f '  '"'^  "  «*" 

not  h„  l!  -"^      ""^  *'"'  Americans,  it  could 

not  but  have  a  most  auspicious  influence  on  thdr  affaT™ 
.n  the  cabinet  and  in  the  field.   The  thank,  J 
were  voted  to  General  Gates  and  hrarmv'T" 
-da,  of  gold,  in  commemo^tion  of  tMr'^ndi: 
achievement  was  ordered  to  be  struck,  to  be  pre    "ted 
tolnm  by  the  president,  in  the  nam;  of  thXtel 

After  the  surrender  of  Burffovnp  fKo 
by  him  at  Ticonderoga  retread  1  c  J™  f 
were  pursued  by  «%  Green-Mountain  Z"  ^^^ 
captured  forty-nine  of  their  number,  togethe"'i 
horses,  cattle,  and  boats  in  great  numbers''  PrevTo' 
to  the  retreat  of  the  British  from  Ticonderoga  aTr 
monter,  named  Eichard  Wallace,  swam  acrosfth^ir 

r3  :'T:  '"^'-^  '"«  P-P-  of  learning  tt 
!  ? 7   L      *"■""'  "'"™'  ™  '"'  «Maek  was  contem 
plated  by  Warner  and  Herrick.    This  act  of  TJZZ 
equal  to  a  story  of  another  Green-Mountain  h  ro"  o"" 
Johnson,  who,  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  met  a  Z 


378       ETHAN  ALLKN  AND  ORREN-MOrNTAIN  HEROFJ. 


.-iSiiM   .  .^M* 


III 


of  German  boldiers  in  tlio  woods,  and,  having  no  other 
weapon  than  a  club,  wrenclied  the  file-leader's  sword 
troni  his  grasp,  and  compelled  the  whole  party  to  sur- 
render themselves  prisoners  of  war.     A  grandson*  of 
that  hero  still  keeps  the  Hessian  blade  thus  bravely  won. 
The  brave  and  hardy  inhabitants  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tains, who  thus  nobly  stood  forth  in  defense  of  their 
country,  had  other  difficulties  than  those  inseparable 
from  the  war  with  the  mother  country  to  encounter. 
Not  having  been  recognized  as  an  independent  state, 
they  were  deprived  of  a  regular   government,  under 
which  they  could  act  with  system  and  effect.     They 
had,  at  first,  no  rallying  point,  and  no  bond  of  union, 
save  a  common  interest  to  resist  the  claims  of  New 
York,  as  they  had  subsequently  no  other  tie  than  that 
of  a  common  determination  to  resist  the  invasion  of  the 
British  forces.     However,  the  necessity  which   drove 
them  to  resistance,  gave  the  euect  of  law  to  the  recom- 
mendations of  their  conventions  and  committees  ;  while 
a  few  bold  and  daring  spirits,  as  if  formed  for  the  oc- 
casion,, gave  energy  and  system  to  their  movements. 
But  a  better  organizadon  was  obviously  needed,  to 
sustain  a  protracted  conflict.    The  change  produced  by 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  the  relations  be- 
tween Great  Britain  and  her  colonies,  rendered   the 
importance  of  this  course  still  more  imperative.    The 
people  had,  as  we  have  seen,  originally  purchased  their 
lands  under  royal  grants  from  the  gov(3rnor  of  New 
Hampshire.    But  New  York  claimed  the  jurisdiction 
and  right  of  soil,  and  insisted  that  the  occupants  of  the 
lands  should  repurchase  them,  and  at  exorbitant  rates. 

•  Rev.  Charles  Johimon,  of  Locke,  Cayuga  county,  New  York. 


tOFJ. 

g  no  other 
ur's  sword 
•ty  to  Bur- 
ndson*  of 
ively  won. 
jen  Moun- 
e  of  their 
isoparable 
3Dcounter. 
lent  state, 
nt,  under 
ct.     They 
of  union, 
3  of  New 
than  that 
ion  of  the 
ch   drove 
be  recom- 
es ;  while 
)r  the  oc- 
)veraent8. 
3eded,  to 
duced  by 
tlons  be- 
ered   the 
ve.    The 
sed  their 
of  New 
isdiction 
its  of  the 
nt  rates. 

York. 


INDlirKNDENrE   OF'    WA.Lloxr. 


'H 


0 

The  settlers  had  petitioned  the  crown  for  redress,  and 
whdo  they  were  encouraged  with  indications  favorable 
to  their  nghts,  the  connection  between  the  crown  and 
contending  parties  was  suddenly  dissolved.    There  no 
longer  remained,  therefore,  any  earthly  power,  recog- 
nized by  the  parties  as  a  superior,  possessing  the  right 
ot  settling  the  controversy.     This  state  of  things  could 
not  fail  to  suggest  to  the  settlers  the  expediency  of  de- 
daring  themselves  independent.     Having  never  sub- 
mitted to  the  authority  of  New  York,  and  finding  no 
Batety  for  their  dearest  rights  in  doing  so,  they  consid- 
ered  the  time  had  arrived,  as  they  no  longer  acknowl- 
edged  allegiance  to  the  British  crown,  when  a  regard 
for  their  own  safety  required,  and  justice  sanctioned, 
their  formal  assumption  of  the  powers  of  self-govern- 
ment.    Accordingly,  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1775 
a  number  of   individuals   repaired  to  Philadelphia,' 
where   the  continental  congress  was  then  in  session, 
desiring  the  advice  of  that  body  as  to  the  course  they 
should  pursue.     No  formal  action  was  taken  by  con- 
gress, although  several  of  its  promir--'  -.^mbers  rec- 
ommended  a  separate  state  organizat  vention 

of  delegates  from  thirty-five  towns  l  .gem- 

bled  at  Dorset,  July  24th,  1776 ;  but  k  e  of 

more  thoroughly  obtaining  the  views  ol  t...  .ople 
adjourned  to  the  25th  of  the  following  September.  By 
the  adjeuiiied  meeting,  it  was  unanimously  resolved 
"to  take  suitable  measures,  as  soon  as  may  be  to 
declare  the  New-Hampshire  Grants  a  free  and  separate 
district." 

In  January,  1777,  another  convention  was  held  at 
Westminster,  which  finally  adopted  the  following 


380        ETHAN  AI.LKN  AND  (JRKRN-MOnNTAIN  HEU0K8. 
DECLARATION    OP    INDEPENDENCE. 

*'  In  convention  of  the  HciireMentatives  from  the  several  coun- 
ties and  town.s  of  the  Now  llami)8hire  Grants,  holden  at  West- 
niinster,  January  lo,  1777,  by  adjournment. 

iV/iereas,  the  Honorable  the  Continental  Conp^ress  did,  on  the 
4th  (lay  of  July  last,  declare  the  United  Colonies  in  America  to 
be  free  and  independent  of  the  crown  of  Great  BriUiin;  which 
declaration  we  most  cordially  ai'ijuiesce  in.  And  whereas  by  tlie 
wud  declaration,  tuo  arbitrary  acts  of  the  crown  are  null  and  void,, 
in  America.  Consequently,  the  jurisdiction  by  said  crown  grantee. 
to  New  York  government  over  the  people  of  the  New  Hampshire 
Grants  is  totally  dissolved. 

We  therefore,  the  inhabitants,  on  said  tract  of  land,  are  at 
present  without  law  or  government,  and  may  be  truly  said  tc»  be 
m  a  state  of  nature;  consequently  a  right  remains  to  the  people 
on  said  Grants,  to  form  a  Government  best  suited  to  secure  their 
property  well  bei''  r  and  happine>«.  We  ihe  delegates  from  the 
several  counties  anu  towns  on  said  tract  of  land,  bounded  as  fol- 
lows: South  on  the  north  line  of  Massachusetts  Bay;  East  on 
Connecticut  River;  North  on  Cj^nadaline;  West  as  far  Jis  the 
New  Hampshire  Grants  extend :  After  several  adjournments  for 
the  purpose  of  forming  ourselves  into  a  distinct  separate  State, 
being  assembled  at  Westminster,  do  make  and  publish  the  fol- 
lowing Declaration,  viz: 

"  Tliat  we  will  at  all  times  hereafter,  consider  oui-selves  as  a 
free  and  independent  State,  caj)ablo  of  regulating  our  internal 
police,  in  all  and  every  respect  whatsoeve;-.  And  that  the  peo})le 
of  said  Grants  have  the  sole  and  exclusive,  and  inherent  right  of 
ruling  and  governing  themselves,  in  such  manner  and  form  as  in 
their  own  wisdom  shall  think  proper,  not  inconsistent  to  any 
resolve  of  the  Honorable  Continental  Concrress. 

Furthermore,  we  declare  by  all  the  ties  which  are  held  sacred 
among  men,  that  we  will  firmly  stand  by  and  support  one 
another  in  this  our  declaration  of  a  State,  and  endeavoring  aa 
much  as  in  us  lies  to  suppress  unlawful  routs  and  disturb- 
ances whatever.  Also  we  will  endeavor  to  secure  to  every 
individual  his  life,  peace  and  property,  against  all  invadei-s  of 
the  same. 

Lastly,  we  hsreby  declare,  that  we  are  at  all  times  ready,  in 
conjunction  with  our  brethren  in  the  United  States  of  America, 
to  do  our  full  propoi-t^'on  in  maintaining  and  supporting  the  just 
war,  again'  1:  the  tyrai  .lical  invasions  of  the  ministerial  fleets  and 
armies,  as  well  as  any  othor  foreign  enemies,  sent  with  express 


VKIJMONT   rON8TIT!7TION.  Jgl 

CoLtctrol"'^"'^  '""'"  ^^  '^^  -"^^  ^^  «-  — f  Now 
At  another  convention,  held  in  June,  1777,  th.  name 
of  New  Connecticut  was  changed  to  Vermont.     In- 
formation  of  this  important  step  was   transmitted   to 
congress,  with  the  assurance  that  the  peo],le  of  Vermont 
•'  were  at  all  timos  ready,  ,n  conjunction  with  their 
brethren  in  the  United  States,  to  contribute  their  full 
proportion  towards  maintaining  the  present  just  wrr 
against  ttie  fleets  and  armies  of  Great  Brita-n  »    They 
also  sent  a  deputation  to  Philadelphia  to  solicit  con- 
gress to  recognize  .heir  existence  as  an  independent 
state,  and  admit  their  delegates  to  seats  in  the  naf  ioru.l 
legislature.     Kew  Hampshire  readily  consented  tu  the 
separate  mdependence  of  Vermont ;  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  gave  it  their  approval;  but  New  York  re 
monstrated  against  the  measure  and  even  insisted  that 
congress  should  recall  the  commission  granted  to  the 
noble  Warner,  who  was  denounced  as  an  outlaw  and 
insurgent.    This  remonstrance  had  its  effect  upon  con- 
gress,  and  the  application  for  the  recognition  of  the  in- 
dependence  of  Vermont,  was  peremptorily  dismissed 

While  this  subject  was  before  congress,  the  people  of 
Vermont  were  engaged  in  forming  a  constitution     A 
convention,  chosen  for  this  purpose,  met  at  Windsor 
the  second  of  July.    The  draft  of  a  constitution  was 
prepared,  and  the  convention  were  deliberating  upon  its 
provisions  when  the  intelligence  of  the  evacuation  of 
Ticonderoga  was  received.     "  The  frontiers,'*  says  Ira 
Allen  in  his  History  of  Vermont,  "were  exposed  to  the 
inroads  of  the  enemy.    The  family  of  the  president  of 


r^ 


^t:i 


fli 


1,1,  i  ? 


Sff 


«!       1 


N|. 


%    , 


|f.» 


It-f 


382        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GBEEN-M0T3NTAIN  HEROES. 

the  convention,  as  well  as  those  of  many  other  mem- 
bers, were  exposed  to  the  foe.  In  this  awful  crisis, 
some  were  for  leaving  precipitately  ;  but  a  severe  thim- 
(ler-storm  came  on,  and  during  the  rain,  they  had  time 
to  reflect ;  while  other  members,  less  alarmed  at  the 
news,  called  the  attention  of  thei  whole  to  finish  the 
constitution,  which  was  then  reading  for  the  last  time. 
The  constitution  was  read  through  ;  the  convention 
proceeded  to  appoint  a  council  of  safety  to  conduct 
the  business  of  the  state,  and  adjourned  without  day. 
"  The  members  of  the  council  of  safety,  appointed  as 
aforesaid,  agreed  to  meet  and  form  at  Manchester, 
where  they  repaired  without  loss  of  time.  Colonel 
Thomas  Chittenden  was  elected  president,  and  Mr.  Ira 
Allen  (then  twenty-seven  years  old)  secretary  to  said 
convention.  The  council  of  safety  had  no  public  mo- 
ney, nor  had  they  any  authori*;y  to  lay  taxes,  or  credit, 
as  a  public  body,  to  make  or  borrow  money  to  answer 
the  necessities  of  government.  The  government  was 
in  its  infancy,  and  all  expenses  were  supported  at  pri- 
vate expense.  The  council  were  generally  men  of  small 
property,  yet  in  this  si  aation,  it  became  necessary  to 
raise  men  for  the  defense  of  the  frontiers,  with  bounties 
and  wages.  Ways  and  means  were  to  be  found  out ; 
and  the  day  was  spent  in  debating  on  the  subject.  Na- 
than Clark,  Esq.,  not  convinced  of  the  practicability  of 
raising  a  regiment,  moved  in  council,  that  Mr.  Ira  Al- 
len, (the  youngest  member  of  the  council,  who  insisted 
on  raising  a  regiment,  while  a  large  majority  of  the 
council  were  for  only  two  companies  of  sixty  men  each) 
midit  be  appointed  a  committee,  to  discover  ways  and 
rr  3an8  to  raise,  arm  and  support  a  regiment,  and  to 


mons. 

other  mem- 
wfal  crisis, 
severe  tbim- 
sy  had  time 
med  at  the 
0  finish  the 
le  last  time. 

convention 

to  conduct 
ithout  day. 
ippointed  as 
Manchester, 
le.  Colonel 
and  Mr.  Ira 
;ary  to  said 
)  public  mo- 
38,  or  credit, 
y  to  answer 
rnment  was 
)rted  at  pri- 
nen  of  small 
Qecessary  to 
^ith  bounties 

found  out ; 
ubject.  Na- 
3ticability  of 

Mr.  Ira  Al- 
who  insisted 
jorily  of  the 
y  men  each) 

er  wavs  and 

it 

lent,  and  to 


IRA  Allen's  expedient.  333 

make  his  report  at  sunrise,  on  the  morrow.    The  coun 
cil  acquiesced,  and  Mr.  Allen  took  the  matter  into  con- 
sideration,  and  spent  the  night  alone  in  concerting 
plans  ;  ard  he  reported  the  ways  and  means,  viz :  that 
the  council  should  appoint  commissioners  of  sequestra- 
tion,  with  authority  to  seize  the  goods  and  chattels  of 
all  persons  who  had,  or  should  join  the  common  en- 
emy ;  that  all  movable  property  so  seized  should  be 
Bold  at  public  vendue,  and  the  proceeds  paid  to  a  treas- 
urer, to  be  appointed  by  the  council,  for  the  purpose 
of  paying  a  bounty  often  dollars,  and  one  month's  pay 
m  advance."  ^  '^ 

This  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  instance  of  the  seiz- 
ure  of  the  property  of  the  tories  for  the  defense  of  the 
country  although  the  practice  was  afterward  adopted 
by  all  the  states.  This  energetic  measure  enabled  the 
council  of  safety  to  bring  a  regiment  of  hardy  moun- 
taineers into  the  field.  They  appealed  to  New  Hamp- 
shire for  aid.  Stark  was  promptly  sent  to  their  assist- 
ance-the  battle  of  Bennington  was  fought^  Bur- 
goyne's  expected  supplies  were  thereby  cut  ofi',  and  the 
surrender  of  his  army  to  Gates  became  inevitable. 

Previous  to  the  adjournment  of  the  convention  which 
framed  the  state  constitution,  the  first  election  of  ofii- 
cera  was  directed  to  be  held  in  December,  1777;  but 
the  military  movements  in  that  vicinity  rendered  its 
postponement  necessary.  In  March,  1778,  Thomas 
Chittenden  was  elected  governor,  and  Ira  Allen 
BtoietsLry. 

Thomas  CmTxENDEN  Was  born  January  6,  1730,  at 
Guilford,  Conn.     His  father  hftino-  a  fo.rv.o«  ,-'    ^^j  ' 
ate  circumstances,  the  subject  of  this  memoir  received 


384        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOTTNTAIN  HEROES. 


r 


w 


J?  fff 


if!) 


no  otber  education  than  that  afforded  by  the  common 
school  in  Guilford.  Until  the  eighteenth  year  of  his 
age  he  was  employed  on  his  father's  farm ;  but  being 
of  an  active  and  adventurous  temperament,  he  engaged 
in  a  mercantile  enterprise,  and  made  a  voyage  to  the 
West  Indies.  But  England  being  then  at  war  with 
France,  the  vessel  in  which  he  had  embarked  was  cap- 
tured by  a  cruiser  of  the  latter  country,  and  he  was 
landed  on  a  West-India  island,  without  friends  or  re- 
sources. He  finally  reached  home,  after  undergoing 
much  suffering  and  fatigue.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he 
married  Elizabeth  Meigs,  removed  to  Salisbury,  and 
by  his  industry  and  energy,  soon  acquired  a  consider- 
able fortune.  He  was  then  appointed  a  justice  of  the 
peace,  a  colonel  of  the  militia,  and  represented  the 
town  of  Salisbury  in  the  Connecticut  legislature  from 
1765  to  1772.  Having  purchased  a  large  tract  of  land 
on  the  Winooski  river,  he  removed  to  the  Xew-IIamp- 
shire  Grants  in  the  spring  of  1774,  and  in  a  short  pe- 
riod was  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts  that  wealth 
could  bestow.  At  this  time  ""he  war  of  the  Revolution 
commenced,  and  Mr.  Chittenden,  with  several  other 
persons,  repaired  to  Philadelphia  to  learn  the  views  of 
the  members  of  the  continental  congress,  in  regard  to 
the  momentous  crisis  then  impending,  and  to  receive 
advice  as  to  the  manner  in  which  the  people  occupy- 
ing the  New-Hampshire  Grants,  could,  in  their  pe- 
culiar position,  most  effectually  serve  the  cause  of 
freedom. 

Upon  the  retreat  of  the  American  army  from  Can- 
ada, in  the  spring  of  1776,  the  frontier  settlements 
were  esposea  to  tu6  enemy,  and  ixlv.  v^hittondou  fouiid 


tOE8. 

e  common 
'ear  of  his 
but  being 
le  engaged 
age  to  the 

war  with 
i  was  cap- 
d  he  was 
jnds  or  re- 
nd ergoing 
twenty  he 
ibury,  and 

consider- 
ice  of  the 
ented  the 
iture  from 
,ct  of  land 
3w-Hamp- 

short  pe- 
lat  wealth 
'evolution 
;ral  other 
)  views  of 
regard  to 
o  receive 
e  occupy- 
their  pe- 
cause  of 

^om  Can- 
ittlements 
[qu  fouud 


GOV.    CHITTENDEN. 


385 


it  necessary  to  abandon  his  pleasant  home,  and  re- 
move his  family  to  Massachusetts.     After  doing  this, 
he  entered  with  much  zeal  into  the  measures  adopted 
to  impede  the  progress  of  the  enemy,  and   was  ap- 
pointed the  first  president  of  the  committee  of  safety 
at  Bennington.    Entering  with  deep  interest   into  the 
controversy  with  Kew  York  respecting  the  titles  of 
the  lands  in  the  Kew-IIampshire  Grants,  and   being 
more  acquainted  with  public  business  than  any  of  the 
settlers,  in  consequence  of  the  offices  which  he  hac: 
held  in  his  native  state,  he  was  universally  regarded 
as  the  man  most  suitable  to  be  placed  at  the  head  of 
their  operations.     Mr.  Chittenden  perceived  that  the 
general  struggle  for  independence,  in  which  the  col- 
onies were  now  engaged,  presented  a  favorable  oppor- 
tunity for  terminating  the  controversy  with  Kew  York, 
by  erecting  the  disputed  territory  into  a  new  state' 
and  establishing  a  separate  government ;  and  having 
adopted  this  decisive  plan  of  sound  policy,  he  steadily 
pursued  it,  till  he  saw  the  independence  of  Vermont 
acknowledged  by  the  neighboring  states  and  by  the 
general  government. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  first  convention  of  dele- 
gates from  the  several  townships,  which  met  at  Dorset, 
September  25,  1776,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into' 
consideration  the  expediency  of  declaring  Vermont  an 
independent  state ;  and  at  the  subsequent  meeting  of 
the  convention  at  Westminster,  January  25,  1777,  he 
was  one  of  the  committee  who  draughted  the  declara- 
tion of  independence,  which  was  there  adopted;  and 
also  a  member  of  another  committee,  which,  at  that  time, 
petitioned  congress,  praying  that  body  to  acknowledge 


'HI 


Bse 


iMi'l- 


^.1 


!..•  '  ■ 


m 


M 


II:;' 


F  ■ 

m 


Ml 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MODNTAIN  HEKOi:S. 


Vermont  a  free  and  independent  state.  He  assisted  in 
forming  the  first  constitution  of  Vermont,  which  waa 
adopted  by  the  convention,  July  2d,  1777,  and  in  X778 
he  was  elected  the  first  governor  of  Vermont,  which 
office  h.  held,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  till  hia 
death* 

Governor  Chittenden  possessed  in  an  eminent  degree 
precisely  those  qualifications  which  fitted  him  for  the 
sphere  in  which  he  was  called  upon  to  act.  He  had  not 
indeed,  enjoyed  many  of  the  advantages  of  education, 
but  his  want  of  education  was  amply  compensated  by 
the  possession  of  a  strong  and  active  mind,  which,  at 
the  time  he  emigrated  to  Vermont,  was  matured  by 
age,  practiced  in  business,  and  enriched  by  a  careful 
observance  of  men  and  things.    His  knowledge  was 
practical  rather  than  theoretic.    He  was  regular  in  his 
habits -plain  and  simple  in  his  manners  -  averse  to 
ostentation  in  equipage  or  dress,  and  he  cared  little  for 
the  luxuries,  the   blandishments   or  the  etiquette   of 
refined  society.    In  short,  though  he  was  destitute  of 
many  of  the  qualifications  now  deemed  essential  in  a 
statesman,  he  possessed  all  that  were  necessary,  and 
none  that  were  superfluous,  in  the  times  in  which  he 
lived,  and  was  probably  far  better  fitted   to  be  the 
leader  and  governor  of  the  independent,  dauntless  and 
hardy,  but  uncultivated  settlers  of  Vermont,  than  would 
have  been  a  man  of  more  theoretic  knowledge,  or  polite 
accomplishments.  ^ 

Iea  Allen,  who  was  chosen  the  first  secretary  of 
state,  had  also  been  the  secretary  of  the  committee  of 


io;;s. 

assisted  in 
vhich  was 
id  in  1778 
)nt,  which 
^r,  till  hia 

nt  degree, 
m  for  thoi 
)  had  not, 
ducation, 
sated  by 
which,  at 
tared  by 
a  careful 
idge  waai 
Sir  in  big 
iverse  to 
little  for 
aette  of 
titute  of 
tial  in  a 
irj,  and 
^hich  he 
be  the 
less  and 
n  would 
>r  polite 

tarj  of 
ittee  of 

'  ahle  aai 


IKA   ALLEN. 


387 


ft«fety,  and  as  such,  performed  services  of  incalculable 
benefit  to  the  country.     Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Green  Mountains  sancSioned  the  policy  of  the  British 
crown,  in  opposition  u   -Pe  interests  of  the  colonies,  and 
on  the  approach  of  Burgoynt)      'undreds  of  them  lied 
to  his  camp.    The  whole  country  was    .    the  utmost 
consternation.    Successful  resistance  to  the  triumpnant; 
march  of  the  haughty  Briton  was  scarcely  hoped  for 
The  committee  of  safety  at  Bennington  were  about  to 
give  up  in  despair.    The  committee  were  destitute  of 
means,  and  yet  Allen  insisted  that  they  should  enlist  a 
regiment  to  aid  the  army  of  freedom.    But  how  were 
the  men  to  be  paid?  how  armed?    Ira  Allen  shrunk 
not  from  the  question.    "  We  must  use  the  means  of 
those  who  have  gone  over  to  the  enemy,  to  defend 
ourselves  against  them,"  said  he.    The  measure  was 
adopted,  the  regiment  was  raised,  arms  and  ammunition 
were  procured,  and   at  Bennington,  "that  cluster  of 
poor  cottages,"  as  Burgoyne  denominated  it,  was  fouglit 
the  battle  which  rendered  the  ultimate  8urrender°of 
the  British  army  inevitable.    "  Let  us  turn,"  says  a 
distinguished    Vermont    author,*  in   describing    the 
members  of  the  committee  of  safety,  "Let  us  turn  to 
the  youthful  secretary  of  the  council,  Ira  Allen.    So 
much  the  junior  of  his  colleagues  was  he,  that  a 
spectator  might  well  wonder  why  he  was  selected  as 
one  of  such  a  sage  body.    But  thobe  who  procured  his 
appointment  knew  full  well  why  they  had  done  so  ; 
and  his  history  thenceforward  was  destined  to  prove  a 
continued  justification  of  their  opinion.    Both  in  fjrin 

•Daniel  P.  Thompson,  Esq..  in  his  popular  historical  novel,  eaiUtled 
"  The  Rangers." 


.'I  i  I 


f 


J  ,11 


i.'i 

m 


388 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AJ(D  aEEEN-MOnNTAIM  UEKOKS. 


m,  I 


11' 


and  feature,  U  was  one  of  the  handsomest  men  of  hi, 
"ay;    while  a    mind,  at   once    versatile,  clear  and 
penetrating,  with  perceptions  as  quick  as  light,  was 
Stamped  on  his  Grecian   brow,  or  fonud   a  livelier 
expression  in  his  flashing  black  e^es,  and  other  linea- 
ments  of  his  intellectual  countenance.    Such,  as  he 
appeared  for  the  first  time  on  the  stage  of  public  action, 
was  the  afterward  noted  Ira  Allen,  whose  true  history 
when   written,  will  show  him  to  have  been  either 
secretly  oropenly  the  originator  crsuccessful  prosecutor 
of  more  important  political  measures,  affecting  the 
interests  and  independence  of  the  state,  and  the  issue 
of  the  w.r  in  the  northern  department,  than  any  other 
individual  m  Vermont;  making  him,  with  the  many 
peculiar  raits  he  possessed,  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
men  of  the  times  in  which  he  so  conspicuously  figured  " 
Many  difficulties  attended  the  establishment  of  the  new 
government.    Congress  had  disapproved  of  the  Ver- 
mont  declaration  of  independence,  and   New  York 
vigorously  resisted  the  movement.    The  Vermonters 
in  the  expectation  of  increasing  their  strength,  incau- 
tiously  admitted  another  occasion  of  embarrassment  to 
the  adjustment  of  the  serious  controversy  in  which  they 
were  involved.    The  original  charter  under  which  New 
Hampshire  w-as  settled,  was  limited  to  a  margin  of  sixty 
miles  in  width  along  the  sea-coast.    But  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  colony  was  afterward  extended  westward  to  the 
Connecticut    river,  and    Governor  Wentworth  even 
claimed   jurisdiction  to    Lake  Champlain.     Sixteen 
townships,  situated  on  the  east  side  of  the  ConnecticuT 

to  the  Vermont  legislature  for  admission  into  their  new 


ROKS. 

men  of  hi^ 
clear  and 
light,  was 
a   livelier 
ther  linea« 
ch,  as  he 
lie  action, 
le  history, 
en  either 
•rosecutor 
3ting  the 
the  issue 
my  other 
be  many 
narkable 
figured." 
fthe  new 
;he  Yer- 
w  York 
Tionters, 
1,  incau- 
ment  to 
ch  they 
3h  ^ew 
of  sixtj" 
idiction 
to  the 
i   even 
Sixteen 
Jcticut, 
ipplied 
ir  new 


Btate     The  application  was  made  in  March  1778     Th 
people  on  the  east  side  of  the  Green  Mo '5 
ardently  in  favor  nf  fh.  ^^ountains  were 

Bi-xteen   tow„shl72  ^'""'"  inhabiting  tho 

the  proposid  in   r      """"""--i^  approved   „f 
people.    In  J„"el   "  'T  '"'  ""'  ^^''^'^^''  *°  ">« 

bad'  dedar  d  n  Zr  o;?""'^  "  '""^  "'  ^^'•™"'" 
its  formal  con  It  to  th  ""'"' ""  '''°"'^'*'"-  8-e 
once  protested  at  It  rr""-  ?'''''  ^^^P^"'-  "t 

'o..-appea,:dTett:rX^^^^^ 

-an^rrcfttts^fr-^''--^ 

after  having  visited  WashnS"  ^l.t?!"' ?'; 

Ca:dt.rK"ar:::.:tr"^^"^'-^ 

sjons"    A 11^,.       I,.  ^  ^°  former  occa- 

Btate.    The  people  of  Vermont  having  seen  their  1 

^^X:^Z' rnl""^^'■^^'■'^' 


on  his  return  to  h 


IS 


li 


690         ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GRKEN-MOUNTAIN  UKR0E8. 


M     i 


fi  • 


1 


constituents,  urged  them  to  recede  from  the  union  with 
a  portion  of  New  Hampshire,  expressing  the  ap<»ur- 
ance  that  should  they  do  so,  congress  would  recognize 
their  independence.  The  legislature  met  at  Windsor, 
in  October,  and  in  compliance  with  Allen's  recommend- 
ation, receded  from  the  union  with  the  towns  east  of 
the  Connecticut  river.  The  members  from  these  towns 
withdrew  from  the  legislature,  and  were  followed  by  a 
number  of  others  representing  the  east  side  of  the 
Green  Mountains,  and  these  afterward  occasioned  the 
administration  much  trouble. 

During  the  occurrence  of  these  events,  Governor 
Clinton,  of  New  York,  issued  a  proclamation  claiming 
jurisdiction  over  Vermont,  but  confirming  the  title  of 
the  settlers  to  the  lands  which  had  been  granted  bj  the 
governor  of  New  Hampshire.  Many  persons  were 
eager  to  acquiesce  in  the  jurisdiction  of  New  York 
upon  these  conditions.  But  Allen  prepared  an  answer 
to  the  proclamation  of  Clinton,  stating  the  groundo  of 
the  claims  of  Vermont  to  the  right  of  self-government, 
and  exhorting  the  people  not  to  relax  for  a  moment 
their  efforts  to  attain  the  end  for  which  they  had 
struggled  so  long  and  so  hard.  This  address  had  a 
powerful  effect  upon  the  Vermonters,  and  doubtless 
prevented  the  dissolution  of  the  state  government. 

It  should  be  said  to  the  praise  of  Allen,  considering 
the  scenes  he  had  passed  through,  that  on  no  occasion 
did  he  encourage  or  countenance  laxness  in  govern- 
ment, or  disobedience  to  the  laws  and  magistrates,  re- 
cognized as  such  by  the  people  themselves.  "Any  one," 
he  remarks,  "who  is  acquainted  with  mankind  and 
things,  must  know,  that  it  is  impossible  to  manage  the 


ROES. 

inion  with 
tiie  ap<»ur- 
recognize 
;  Windsor, 
commend- 
Ds  east  of 
lese  towns 
owed  by  a 
de  of  the 
doned  the 

Governor 
I  claiming 
le  title  of 
ted  bj  the 
ions  were 
Few  York 
m  answer 
rounds  of 
i^ernmenfc, 
I  moment 
they  had 
iss  had  a 
doubtless 
(lent, 
nsidering 

occasion 
a  govern- 
trates,  re- 
^ny  one," 
dnd  and 
nage  the 


AliEN  FOE   LAW  AND  OUDEB.  39] 

political  matters  of  this  country  without  the  assistance 

toss  d  bv  tL        ""  T  ''''  ^'^^'^"^  '  "^^'^  -^  n^-iner, 
tossed  by  the  impetuous  waves.    We  could  nnf  n,  • 

regula  ,006.    The  two  last  coneiderations  do,  in  the 

firm  the  government  already  set  up  by  the  authority 
of  the  people,  which  ia  the  fountain  of  all  tempo  J 

™'  r  "'T'^  '•''"^'^^<'  ^^l-  signal  advan- 
tages.  These  eenfments  he  avowed  repeatedly  and 
even  when  he  was  stirring  up  and  leading'out  he  mobi 

the  rz;"'  "'"^^^  '^"'"^''  "™^^"  -mS 

emies ,  and  he  never  ceased  to  recommend  order  .nod 

«y ::  t'"" '"  t  ""^^'^  --"all;:: 

prosperi  y  and  happiness  of  the  community. 
Th,s  desire  on  the  part  of  Allen  to  maintain  good 

Isllr"'"  '^  "'""^"'^^  '»  «■«  J-. '«  hail 
1  ustrated  by  an  occurrence  which  took  place  soon  rfS 

air;:/::  r  ^y  ^-^^-^-^  ^^''•'-^  ^^^  ^- 

visions  and    '^''"r     '  ™""^  "^  '''^  '^''^^  ^'^^  P- 

foendly  to  the  country.   He  was  at  first  tried  by  a  imy 
ot  SIX  persons  and  convir>fPrt  or,^  *^    -^ 

executed  nn  ,h.   .^  ?^7^<^<=e^'  and  was  sentenced  to  be 
executea  on  the  p'xth  day  of  Jump  tt'Tq     t   ^u 
time   Tnhn  P,  J' "^  ^  une,  1  /  78.    In  the  mean 

time  John  Burnam,  an  attorney  at  law,  who  had  r. 
cently  arrived   from  Connecticut,  with  ^    '„  's" 

coriT:::  r  ^^-r^-^^^^^  appeared^::: 

council  of  safety  and  showed  thpm   f^at  t?.^.--  , 


i!!l 


ii"! 


Ill 


W 


**     ^i»i 

:ii| 


302       ETHAN  ALLEN  ANIJ  GKEEN -MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


M 


It  < 


IH 


conviction  htid  been  irregular,  inasmuch  as  no  man 
could  be  legally  convicted  of  a  capital  crime,  but 
by  tl'.e  verdict  of  twelve  jurymen.  The  council,  per- 
ceiving their  error,  granted  a  new  trial.  P»ut  the  curi- 
osity which,  not  much  to  the  honor  of  human  nature, 
has  ever  been  manifested  on  such  occasions,  was  on 
this,  greatly  heightened  by  the  fact  that  no  execution 
had  ever  taken  place  in  Vermont.  To  this  curiosity 
was  added  the  strong  feeling  of  indignation  which 
such  a  crime  rts  that  of  Redding  was  calculated  to  ex- 
cite at  that  period.  The  intelligence  that  a  new  trial 
had  been  granted  was  received  at  the  moment  when 
the  excited  throng  were  collecting  to  witness  the 
execution.  With  such  a  multitude  and  on  such  an 
occasion,  it  was  useless  to  talk  of  law.  They  had  pro- 
nounced the  culprit  guilty,  and  were  not  in  a  mood  to 
reflect  upon  the  motive  for  setting  aside  the  verdict  of 
the  whole  community  with  so  little  ceremony.  The  ex- 
cited populace  were  preparing  to  seize  the  prisoner, 
regardless  of  the  reprieve  which  had  been  granted,  and 
unceremoniously  hang  him.  Upon  this,  Ethan  Allen 
pressed  through  the  crowd,  mounted  a  stump,  and 
waving  his  hat,  exclaimed  in  thundering  tones,  "At- 
tention the  whole ! "  Silence  was  at  once  restored,  for 
all  were  eager  to  bear  what  he  would  say.  He  then 
proceeded  to  announce  the  reasons  which  had  produced 
the  reprieve — advised  the  multitude  to  depart  peace- 
ably to  their  habitations,  and  return  on  the  day  fixed 
for  the  execution  by  the  council  of  safety,  adding  with 
a  tremendous  oath,  "You  shall  see  somebody  hung, 
at  all  events;  for  if  Reddirgis  not  then  hung, I  will  be 
hung  myself."    The  crowd  quietly  dispersed,  and  after 


E8. 

no  man 

Ime,  but 
icil,  per- 
tho  cnri- 
n  nature, 
,  was  on 
jxecution 
curiosity 
•n  which 
ed  to  ex- 
new  trial 
nt  when 
ness  the 
such  an 
had  pro- 
mood  to 
erdict  of 
The  ex- 
prisoner, 
ited,  and 
in  Allen 
mp,  and 
les,  "At- 
;ored,  for 
He  then 
Droduced 
rt  peace- 
lay  fixed 
ing  with 
iy  hung, 
I  will  be 
md  after 


ANECDOTKS   OF  ETICAN    ALLKN. 


393 


having  been  a  second  time  convicted,  Pwedding  was 
finally  executed.* 

Levi,  one  of  Ethan  Allen's  brothers,  joined  the  tories 
and  fled  with  them  to  Canada.  This  greatly  incensed 
Etiian,  and  he  applied  to  the  proper  authorities  for  the 
confiscation  of  his  brother's  property  for  the  benefit  of 
the  state.f  Levi  heard  of  this,  and  challenged  his 
brother  to  fight  a  duel !  This  Ethan  refused  to  do,  on 
the  ground  ihat  it  would  "be  disgraceful  to  fight  a  tory ! " 
Levi  afterward  abandoned  the  royal  cause,  and  be- 
came a  staunch  patriot. 

•  Another  anecdote,  illustrative  of  Allen's  character,  may  be  appropri- 
ately  narrated  here,  and,  like  the  above,  is  undoubtedly  authentic.  Allea 
was  for  a  short  time  a  resident  of  Tinmouth,  Vt  On  one  occasion  while 
at  the  house  of  the  village  physician,  a  lady  entered  to  have  a  tooth  ex- 
tracted; but  as  often  as  the  physician  attempted  to  apply  his  instru.nent 
to  the  offending  tooth,  the  lady's  courage  failed.  Allen,  who  was  an  un- 
easy  spectator,  at  length  said  to  the  physician,  "  Here,  Doctor,  take  out 
one  of  my  teeth."  "  But  your  teeth  are  all  sou».d,"  said  the  physician, 
after  carefully  examining  hia  molars  and  incisora  "  Never  mind  -  do  aa 
I  direct  you."  said  Allen;  and  there  was  suddenly  a  gap  in  his  array  of 
ivory.  «  Now  take  courage,  madam,  from  the  example  I  have  given  you  " 
8aid  Allen  to  the  trembling  lady.  Pride  overcame  her  fears,  and  she 
was  soon  relieved  of  Ler  apprehensions  of  pain,  and  of  her  tooth  ako. 

t  The  following  is  a  literal  copy  of  Ethan  Allen's  complaint  concern- 
ing  his  brother  : 

BEN.vrN.T0N  County,  m.~ArUngton.  m  of  January,  1779 
To  the  Honorable  the  Court  of  Confiscation,  comes  Col.  Ethan  All.n 
m  the  name  of  the  freemen  of  this  State,  and  complaint  makes  that  Levi 
Allen,  late  of  Salisbury,  in  Connecticut,  is  of  tory  principles,  and  holds 
in  fee,  sundry  tracts  and  parcels  of  land  in  this  State.  The  said  Levi  has 
been  detected  in  en-leavoring  to  supply  the  enemy  on  Long  Island,  and  ' 
in  attempting  to  circulate  counterfeit  continental  currency,  and  is  guiitv 
of  holding  treasonable  correspondence  with  the  enemy,  under  cover  of 
doing  favours  to  me,  when  a  prisoner  at  New-York,  and  Long  Island  • 
and  in  talking,  and  useing  influence  in  favour  of  the  enemy,  associating 


11 


i;  ' 

M  -  ■ 

it' 

1 

I".     i 


894 


KTIIAN  AUJO,  AND  OKJillM-MOUNTAIN  imHOK«. 


After  the  surrenderor Burg„yne,  tl.e  eouthern  state, 
beearao  the  theater  of  the  important  oj,eration6  of  the 
Jir.t,8h,  leaving  no  opportunity  (or  tlie  Ameriean  troops 
od^tmRnish  themselves  in  the  north.  Warner,  with 
the  r„„  Mountain  Hegi.nent,  was  in  constant  service 
on  the  Hudson  nver  and  elsewhere,  as  the  exigencies  of 

of'thr"""";  w'"  K  "' '"'  "'""^^  """  "'«  -Peetations 
0   the  great  Washington.    The  indefatigable  exertions 
of  Warner  ,„  the  cause  of  freedom,  and  the  constant 
oxpoeure  and    fatigue  to  which    ho  was    subjected, 
"n<lerm,ned  his  constituion,  and  he  returned  to  his 
fam.ly  at  Bennington,  toward  the  close  of  the  war,  a 
djmg  man.    Diseaoc  in  an  aggravated  form  had  struck 
Its  fangs  ,nto  h.s  system.    But  he  bore  the  distressing 
maladies  of  his  last  days  with  unbounded  fortitude 
H>s  agonies  were  solaced  by  the  reflection  that  he  had 
discharged  his  du  'y  to  his  country,  and  had  successfully 
struggled  to  obtain  her  freedom.    He  was  saddened, 
however,   by  the  reflection   tlmt  his  wife  and   three 
children  would  be  left  in  destitute  circumstances.    Tlie 
lands  which  he  oneo  owned,  had,  while  he  was  engaged 
in  active  service  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  b^en 

with  ini|„ical  pe„on,  to  tLi,  cauntry,  ,,„d  with  tbem  n,„„„p„li,i„„  ,fc. 
nooe^.,,.  of  l,re,  i„  e„dea™ri„g  .„  ,„,en  .h,  credit  of  the  co  lel 
comnc,  .„d  .„  p.,tic„I„,ha,h  everted  hi„,el,  in  ft.  „JZl2t 

IL    aH  !     'l"r'T'  1  """  '"■''^''  '"'"■  '"<'  "'  "■'•«  S-te  like- 
jm  .  all  wlKch  mimical  conduct  ia  against  the  peace  an.l  dignity  of  tho 

Td  L:  1    /  »■■»*"'«<'".  "">  "ake  confiscation  of  fte  e»ta,o  of 

tl^"     t'°  "T""'  "~"''"8'°1'»  '"waand  cn..on.s  of  thi. 
State  m  such  case  made  and  orovidod. 

E^HAN  ALLEN. 


DKATH   OF  COLOUEL   WAltNKK.  g^ 

•old  for  taxes.    So  much  had  ho  boon  engrosfied  by  his 
duties  as  a  patriot,  that  he  thought  not  of  saving  his 
own  property  while  the  freedom  of  his  beloved  country 
was  endangered,     ih  was  not  i,ennitted  to  die  in  his 
senses.     Prior  to  his  decease,  he  was  the  victim  of  a 
raging  delirium  ;  and,  in  his  wild  imaginings,  fancied 
himself  at  the  head  of  his  regiment  of  Hungers,  and 
on  his  dying  couch,  restrained  by  a  consiant  guard  ot 
able-bodied  men,  he  would  %ht  his  battles  over  again. 
The  preternatural  strength  with  which  h.  was  endowed, 
decreased,  at  last,  with  the  progress  of  his  insidious 
malady;  and  the  skillful  botanist,  whose  prescriptions 
had  prolonged  the  lives  of  others,  c.uld  not  restore  his 
Dwn    reason   or  save  his    own   life.      The  practiced 
huntsman,  the  sinews  of  whose  gigantic   frame  were 
hardened  in  the  hunting-grounds  of  Vermont,  and  who 
had  never  feared  the  face  of  any  man,  paled   and 
trembled   before   the  grim  visage  of  that   huntsman 
whose  name  is  Death.—  His  earthly  doom  was  finally 
sealed!    His  earthly  sands  had  run  out!     He  obeyed 
the  mandate  to  join  the  majority  —  oin^J  adplurea-^ 
and  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  in  the  prime  of  life  — 
"  ere  his  eye  was  dim  or  his  natural   force  abated." 
The  gold  was  refined  and   the  crucible  was  broken ! 
The  toil-worn   body  was  laid  in   the  "narrow  house 
appointed  for  all  living,"  that  the  soul  might  escape 
into  life.      A  short    time   before  his  death,  he   had 
removed  to  Roxbury,  Conn.,  and  there  his  ashes  were 
consigned  to  the  earth,  with  all  the  honors  of  war,  in  a 
grave  remote  from  the  hills  he  loved  so  well,  and  for 
whose  sake  he  had  yielded  up  his  life  in  the  bloom  of 
manhood.      On    a  white   marble  memorial -stone  in 


396 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN -MOUNTAIN  HEKOE8. 


ni    Mi 


Roxbury,  over  which  the  nioBs  has  been  suffered  to 
grow,  may  now  be  deciphered  with  much  pains-taking, 
the  following  inscription : 

In  memory  of 
COL   SETH  WARNER,  ESQ., 
Who  departiid  this  lite,  December  26,  A  D  1784 
In  the  49(1  year  of  his  age.  ' 

Triumphant  leader  at  our  armies'  head. 
Whose  martial  glory  struck  a  panic  dread, 
1  b*^  warlike  deeds  engraven  on  this  stone. 
J  e    tuture  ages  what  a  hero 's  done, 
i^ull  sixteen  battles  he  did  fight, 
For  to  procure  his  country's  rigiiL 
Oh  I  this  brave  hero,  he  did  fall 
By  death,  who  ever  conquers  all. 
When  this  you  see,  remember  me. 

The  proprietors  of  several  townships  had  given  him 
tracts  of  land,  of  considerable  value,  as  a  reward  for 
his  services  in  defense  of  the  ^w-Hampshire  Grants- 
but  the  greater  part,  if  not  all  of  them,  were  sold  for 
taxes,  and  his  heirs  never  received  any  considerable 
benefit  from  them.    In  1777,  the  legislature  of  Ver- 
raont  generously  granted  to  his  heirs  2,000  acres  of 
land,  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  county  of  Essex     It 
was  then  supposed  that  this  land  would  become  val- 
uable  by  a  settlement  of  that  part  of  the  county;  but 
^hen  that  section  of  the  state  was  axplored,  this  tract 
of  land  was  found  to  be  of  little  or  no  value,  and  it 
yet  remains  unsettled.* 

•In  1786  Mrs.  Warner  petitioned  congress  for  reu.uneration  for  the 
servces  of  her  husband,  but  the  amount  of  relief  afforded  her  was  small. 
The  following  are  the  closing  sentences  of  her  memorial :  "  The  cir- 
cumstances  of  your  disconsolate  petitioner  as  to  her-interest  and  circum- 
stances  in  life,  will  appear  by  certificate  of  Daxik.  Shkhma.,  judge  of 
probate,  herewith  transmitted,  by  which  your  honors  will  see  that  your 
unhappy  petitioner  hath  nothing  to  support  herself  and  three  children 
only  her  own  industry  -  having  two  sons  a^d  a  daughter,  two  of  ^hich 


COLONEL   WAKKIKS    WIDOW. 


397 


Although  the  current  of  the  war  swept  soutliward 
after  the  capture  of  Burgoyne,  the  people  of  Vermont 
while  agitated   by    their  political    contest    with    the' 
neighboring  states,  were  frequently  harassed  by  par- 
ties  of  Indians  in  the  interest  of  the  British  crown 
ed  on  by  tories  even  more  fiendish  than  the  Indians 
hemselvee.    Nevertheless,  the  greater  portion  of  the 
^habitants  who  had   fled  from  their  homes   on  tlie 
approach  of  Burgoyne,  returned  again  after  tlie  storm 

are  unable  to  earn  anytliinff  by  their  lahnr     v  .•  • 

ther  represent  to  your  honors  that   b."     V"'  '      """  "'"^'  '"' 
defense  of  t],«  .       .      ^o""™  that  the  colonel  was  so  taken  up  in   the 

nelpb,m8eJf,a„<ly„„rpe„t„,„j^  had  the  unhappiness  to  see  herde..r 
co„,pa„,„„  a,  i. ,,,,,  ,1,  ,^  .^^^^^  ^^  ^  ^^J^       be;     „     at 

after  tie  colonel  i„  hU  laa.  s°ck„el     H^    t  .  ""T""''  "'  '""'"^ 
lave  faUen  i„  battle  aa  ma„v  tfdT,,  "  """  '°'°"«'''  '"=  «» 

the  death  of  her  rlpnr  i,.,cK     i  •  '^"P®  inasmuch  aa 

Ha,d.hip  JrLTit";'"  rj:.;;:::?:;™  r  "^  "°""^'  °"^ 

petitioner  s 


ever 


praj. 


I, 


W**!' 


I'  !i! ' 


1^  h 

ni  i  I 


I 


398       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 

had  passed.    Those  on  the  frontiers  were  in  constant 
peril,  and  many  were  the  midnight  assaults  upon  their 
feeble  settlements,  and  many  were  the  occasions  upon 
which   their   fortitude  and    heroism  were  called  into 
action.     The  memory  of  most  of  these  has  been  lost 
in  the  lapse  of  years.     Among  the  most  remarkable 
of  these  early  settlers,  who  are  yet  remembered,  was 
Mrs.    Storey,  of  Salisbury.     Her  husband   had  emi- 
grated to  the  Grants  at  an  early  day,  but  was  killed 
by  the  fall  of  a  tree,  leaving  Mrs.  Storey  with  half  a 
score  of  children.    Thus  left  a  widow,  she  endured 
almost  every  hardship,  laboring  in  the  field,  chopping 
down   timber  and    clearing  and  cultivating  the  soil. 
She  retreated   several   times  to  Pittsford  during  the 
Kevolution,  on  account  of  the  danger  apprehended  from 
the  enemy,  but  at  length  she  and  a  Mr.  Stevens  pre- 
pared themselves  a  safe  retreat.    This  was  effected  by 
^^ggi"g  ^  ^ole  horizontally  into  the  bank,  just  above ' 
the  water  of  Otter  creek,  barely  sufficient  to  admit  one 
person  at  a  time.     This  passage  led   to   a   spacious 
lodging-room,  the  bottom  of  which  was  covered  with 
straw,  and  upon  this  their  beds  were  laid  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  the  families.    The  entrance  was  con- 
cealed by  bushes  which  hung  over  it  from  the  bank 
above.    They  usually  retired  to  their  lodgings  in  the, 
dusk  of  evening,  and  left  them   before  light  in  the 
morning,  and  this  was  effected  by  means  of  a  canoe, 
so  that  no  path  or  footsteps  were  to  be  seen  leadi-^g  to 
their  subterraneous  abode.*    This  afforded  her  perfect 
security  during  the  continuance  of  the  war. 

•Mrs.  Storey  and  her  underground  room  occupy  a  prominent  place  in  tho 
thrilling  novel  of  "  The  Green -Mountain  Boys,"  by  D.  P.  Thompson,  Esq 


ATTACK   ON   KOYALTON. 


3U9 


The  most  disastrous  incursion  of  the  Indians  against 
the  people  of  Vermont,  i^.ulted  in  the  destruction  of 
the  town  of  Royalton.     In  the  beginning  of  October, 
1780,  an  expedition  was  planned  again&t  Newbury,  on 
Connecticut  river,  the  principal  object  of  which  was 
to  captnre  a  Lieutenant  Whitcomb,  who,  the  Cana- 
dians asserted,  had  mortally  wounded  and  robbed  a 
British  General  Gordon,  during  Montgomery's  disas- 
trous campaign  several  years  before.  Against  this  man 
the  British  and  Indians  had  conceived  a  violent  aver- 
eion,  and  planned  the  present  expedition  in  order  to 
get  him  in  their  power.    The  expedition  consisted  of 
two  hundred  and  ten  men,  nearly  all  of  whom  were 
Indians,  under  the  command  of  a  British  officer  named 
Horton.    In  proceeding  up  Winooski  river,  they  fell 
in  with  two  hunters,  who  informed  them  that  the  peo^ 
pie  of  Newbury  were  expecting  an  attack,  and  had 
prepared  themselves  for   it ;   and  they  therefore  de- 
cided  to  direct  their  course  toward  Royalton.    They 
found  the  inhabitants  wholly  unprepared  for  an  attack, 
and  an  easy  prey  to  their  rapacity.    After  destroying 
twenty  houses  at  Royalton  and  several  in  the  neigh- 
boring towns,  killing  some  persons  who  attempted  to 
escape,  and  taking  many  prisoners  and  much  plunder, 
they  commenced  a  hasty  retreat.    The  news  quickly 
spread,  and  a  party  of  the  resolute  inhabitants  of  neigh- 
boring  towns  soon  assembled,  chose  a  leader  and  com- 
menced pursuit.     So   great  was   their  dispatch   that 
they  soon  came  up  with  the  trail  of  the  savages,  in  the 
night,  who,  having  posted  their  sentries,  and  partaking, 
excessively  of  the  intoxicating  portion  of  their  spoils" 


had  lain  down  to   rest,  not  d 


i  'I 


Ireammg  of  an  attad 


£liUiW« 


11 

m 

ill 


m 


it 


■ 


400        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GKEEN-MuUNTAIN  HEROES. 

Great  was  their  constornation  on  finding  that  their 
Bentries  were  fired  upon  ;  but  with  savage  cunning 
they  sent  word  to  their  pursuers  that  if  attacked,  they 
would  put  all  the  prisoners  to  death  ;  and  while  the 
subject  matter  of  this  threat  was  debating  among  their 
enemies,  they  picked  up  their  prisoners  and  camp- 
equipage,  and  made  a  hasty  retreat  under  the  covei 
of  the  darkness.  In  the  morning  it  was  thought  use 
less  to  pursue  them,  and  the  party  returned.  Most  of 
the  prisoners  eventually  returned  from  captivity. 

Several    authentic    anecdotes    are    related   of  this 
expedition,  which  go  to  show  the  Indian  character  in 
a  less  ferocious  light  than  it  has  generally  been  held, 
under  similar  circumstances.     They  did    not  evinco 
any  desire  to  molest  the  women  or  female  children. 
In  some  of  the  cases,  where  the  women  who  had  left 
their  burning  houses  stood  motionless  and  stupefied, 
not  knowing  what  to   do,  the  Jndians  brought  them 
their  clothes,  with  the  assurance  that  "  Indian  would'nt 
hurt  'em."     One  woman  had  firmness  enough  to  re- 
proach  them  for  their  conduct  in  burning  down  houses, 
and  taunted  them  fur  not  daring  to  cross  the  river  and 
attack  the  men  at  the  fort.     They  bore  her  gibes  with 
the  utmost  patience,  and  only  replied  that    "squaw 
should'nt  talk  too  much."     Another  woman,  named 
Hannah  Handy,  whose  young  son  they  were  carrying 
ofi;  followed  them  with  another  child  in  her  arms,  anil 
besought  them  to  return  her  little  boy.     They  com- 
plied ;    and  following  up  her  success,  she  prevailed 
upon  them  to  give  up  ten  or  fifteen  of  the  children 
of  her  neighbors.     One  of  the  Indians  oifered  to  carrj 
her  on  his  back  across  the  stream ;  she  accepted  hia 


lOES. 

that  their 
3  cunnins; 
eked, they 
while  the 
iiong  their 
nd  camp- 
the  covei 
light  use 

Most  of 
ivity. 
d  of  this 
aracter  in 
een  held, 
3t  evinco 

children. 

had  left 
stupefied, 
^ht  them 
would'nt 
^h  to  re- 
n  houses, 
'iver  and 
bes  with 

"squaw 
,  named 
carrying 
rms,  and 
ley  com- 
)revailed 
children 
to  carrj 
pted  his 


ANECDOTES   OF  THE   INDIANS.  ^Ql 

politeness,  and  though  the  water  was  :ip  to  his  waist 
he  conveyed  her  over  in  safety,  and  she  returned  with 
her  httle  band  of  boys,  to  the  surprise  and  ioy  of  their 
parents. 

As  the  Indians  usually  sought  only  for  plunder,  and 
seldom  molested  women  or  children,  it  was  customary 
for  the  men,  when  their  settlements  were  attacked  by  a 
superior  force,  to  flee  into  the  woods  till  the  Indians  had 
performed  their  work  of  plunder.     At  one  time  a  party 
of  them  entered  the  house  of  Mr.  Stone,  of  Bridgeport 
giving  him  but  just  time  to  escape,  and  after  stripping 
It  of  every  thing  of  value  to  them,  the  principal,  San 
hoop,  put  on  the  finest  shirt  it  afforded,  and  swaggering 
away  to  the  hogsty,  selected  the  best  hog,  and  officiated 
as  chief  butcher,  flourishing  his  fine  bloody  sleeves 
while  his  comrades,  wL.oping  and  dancing,  carried  it 
away  to  their  canoes.    At  another  time  a  party  of  In- 
dians, coming  up  the  bank,  were  discovered  by  Mrs 
Stone  in  season  to  throw  some  things  out  of  a  back 
window  into  the  weeds,  p^ut  a  few  in  her  bosom,  and 
sit  down  to  her  carding.    The  Indians,  after  taking 
what  they  could  find   elsewhere,   came   around  Mrs'' 
Stone  and  the  children.     One  of  them  seeming  to  sus- 
pect that  she  had  some  valuable  articles  concealed  about 
her  person,  attempted  to  pull  them  from  her  bosom- 
whereupon  she  struck  him  on  the  face  with  her  card  so 
violently  that  he  withdrew  li-is  hand,  while  a  tall  young 
savage  was  flourishing  his  tomahawk  over  her  head 
Upon  this  an  old  Indian  cried  out,  ^^Good  squaxo.good 
squaw,''  and  l)urst  into  a  laugh  of  derision  at  his  com- 
panions  for  being  beaten.     On  another  occasion,  pre- 
vious to  the  evacuation  of  Ticunderoga  by  the  British. 


m 

jflsl 


I'f'ii 


» 


I- 

1  '•|nl 

f  '■ 

f '    Mm 

M 

t 

^m 

! 
Mi 

'*M 

.,  ! 


*02        E-HAN  AI.LEN  AND  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HKK0E8. 

a  party  of  Americans  plundered  the  house  of  a  tory, 
by  the  name  of  Prindle,  who  was  a  neighbor  to  Mr. 
Stone.     Prindle,  not  owning  the  house,  set  it  on  fiiB, 
and,  retreating  on  board  a  British  armed  vessel  on  the 
lake,  implicated  Mr.  Stone  in  the  robbery  and  burn- 
ing.    He,  anticipating  mischief,  kept  in  the  bushes  near 
the  bank  to  observe  their  movements,  where  the  British 
discovered  him,  and  let  off  a  volley  of  grape-8hot,which 
struck  among  the  trees  above  him,  and  also  fired  upon 
his  house,  some  of  the  shot  entering  the  room  whe  9  the 
family  was.     They   then  sent  a  boat  on  shore,  took 
Mr.  Stone  and  carried  him  a  prisoner  to  Ticonderoga, 
where  he  remained  three  weeks.    Mrs.  Stone  expecting 
he  would  be  sent  to  Quebec,  went  to  him  in  a  canoe,  a 
distance  of  twelve  milee,  with  no  other  company  than 
her  brother,  a  lad  only  ten  years  old,  to  carry  him 
clothes,  leaving  her  two  children,  the  oldest  but  four 
years  old,  alone  at  home.     She  had  to  tarry  all  night 
before  she  could  gain  admittance.     On  her  return  she 
found  her  children  safe,  the  oldest  having  understood 
enough  of  her  directions  to  feed  and  take  care  of  the 
younger.* 

In  1777,  the  town  of  Brandon  was  visited  by  a  party 
of  Indians,  who  killed  two  men,  George  and  Aaron 
Robins,  made  prisoners  of  most  of  the  other  inhabit- 
ants, and  set  fire  to  their  dwellings  and  to  a  saw-mill 
which  they  had  erected.  Joseph  Barker,  h.'s  wife,  and 
a  child  eighteen  monthfl  old,  were  among  the  prisoners. 
Mrs.  Barker,  not  being  in  a  condition  to  traverse  the 

"  See  Thorapson'a  Gazetteer  of  Vermont— one  of  the  most  complete 
and  interesting  works  of  the  kind,  which  should  be  in  the  hauds  of 
evei  V  <mo  proud  of  the  name  of  Vermonter 


IFII'^'^^ 


KKOES. 

B  of  a  tory, 
bor  to  Mr. 
st  it  on  fiiB, 
essel  on  the 

and  burn- 
bushes  near 

the  British 
-shotjWhich 

fired  upon 
1  whe  9  the 
jhore,  took 
conderoga, 
!  expecting 
a  canoe,  a 
ipanj  than 

carry  him 
5t  but  four 
y  all  night 
return  she 
mderstood 
;are  of  the 

by  a  party 
id  Aaron 
r  inhabit- 
i  saw-mill 
wife,  and 
prisoners, 
verse  the 

)st  complete 
le  hauds  of 


ADVERSE   CLAIMS   ON    VKltMONT.  403 

Wilderness,  was  set  at  liberty  with  her  child.  The  next 
night,  with  no  other  shelter  than  the  trees  of  the  forest 
and  the  canopy  of  heaven,  and  with  no  other  company 
than  the  infant  above  named,  she  had  another  child 
She  was  found  the  following  day  and  removed  with  hef 
children  to  Pittsford.  Mr.  Barker  was  carried  to  Mid- 
dlebnry  where,  feigning  to  be  sick,  he  succeeded  in 
the  n,ght  in  making  his  escape,  and  arrived  safely  at 
ri  ttsford.  "^ 

Tho  rival  claims  of  New  York  and  New  Hampshire 
0  he  territory  of  Vermont,  came  near  proving  fatal 
to  the  separate  identity  of  the  infant  state.    A  propo- 
sition  was  made  that  they  should  authorize  congress  to 
arbitrate  between  them,  in  which  court  the  matter 
would  doubtless  have  been   compromised   by  giving 
New  York  the  west  and  New  Hampshire  the  east  slope 
of  the  Green  Mountains.    To  such  a  division  of  Ver- 
mont,  both  states  were  willing  to  accede.    But  in  this 
emergency  Massachusetts  interfered,  and  brought  for- 
ward  a  third  claim  to  the  territory  in  dispute,  founded 
on  the  tact  that  the  original  grant  to  Mason,  of  the 
colony  of  New  Hampshire,  extended  only  sixty  mi'es 
from  the  ocean,  and  that  all  west  of  Mason's  line  be 
longed  to  Massachusetts-that  its  right  had  not  only 
been  conceded  by  New  Hampshire,  but  by  the  crown 
because,  while  the  former  baa  distinctly  declined   to 
support  Fort  Dummer  on  the  ground  that  it  was  be- 
yond Its  jurisdiction,  the  crown  had  decided  that  it 
belonged  to  Massachusetts  to  maintain  that  important 
frontier  post,  which  was  done  at  a  great  expense.    This 
claim  was  certainly  more  plausible  than  eithei-  of  the 
others,  because  Massachusetts  had  been  the  first  actual 


1  5 


404 


'  J    '1 


P    ! 


.•H 


•■!- 

n  i 


m 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREKN-MOLNTAIN  HEROES. 


•     occuprmt  of  the  territory,  and  had  defended  it  against 
the  common  enemy.    The  original  cliarters  frt^  the 
crown  were   ambiguous  and   even  contradictory,  and 
were  quite  as  favorable  to  the  claims  of  Massachusetts 
as  to  those  of  either  of  the  other  states.     That  Massa- 
chusetts really  wished  to  enforce  this  claim  is  not  sup- 
posed, for  the  statesmen  from  that  glorious  colony  were 
favorable  to  the  independence  of  Vermont,  and  their 
movement  had  the  effect,  which  was   undoubtedly  its 
object,   of  saving  Vermont  from   dismemberment   by 
congress.     Massachusetts  declining  to  submit  its  claims 
to   the   arbitrament   of  congress,  relieved    the  young 
state  from  the  impending  peril.    The  question  was  one 
of  great  delicacy  for  congress.      Every  exertion  was 
required  to  defend  the  country  against  the  British  arms, 
and  the  imminent  danger  that  would  occur  from  arous- 
ing the  enmity  of  either  New  York  or  'New  Hampshire 
must  be  its  apology  for  pursuing  a  vacillating  and  in- 
decisive course  in  regard  to  the  difficult  question  urged 
upon  it  by  the  conflicting  parties.     Under  the  pressure 
of  these  circumstances,  congress,  in  1780,  passed  a  res- 
olution declaring  the  course  of  Vermont  to  be  "subver- 
sive of  the  peace  and  welfare  of  the  United  States." 
Although  its  representatives  had  been  excluded  from 
any  participation  in  the  councils   of  the   nation,  the 
fidelity  of  Vermont  to  the  cause  of  freedom  and  the 
country  was  unquestioned,  for  its  heroes  had  given  the 
most  signal  and  important  proofs  of  this.     It  is  not 
surprising,  howover,  that  when  the  above-named  reso- 
lution was  adopted  by  congress,  Governor  Chittenden 
should  have  replied,  that  if  Vermont  was  not  included 
in  the  United  States,  it  was  at  liberty  to  offer  or  accept 


INDKPENMNOE   OF   VKKMONTUKS. 


405 
terms  fo,  the  cessation  of  hostilities  with  Great  Bntain 

m.tted  to  the  colomal  union.    Ira  Allen  and  Stephen 

p  Ji^   7  "'"  '''"''''  "^  ""-"'^  '»  -new  thi rr 
pos  t  on  to  congress.    The  consideration  of  the  ret  e 
sentafons  of  these  agents  was  indefinitely  postponed 
and  the  qnestion  was  left  undetermined  ^        ' 

.eslT X"  ""'  '"'"""""  "  ''"^'"S  statesmen  who  pos- 
fensfoft -"T^','''  "■'  ability  requisite  to  theV 
fense  of  us  just  nghts.    Despite  the  arms  of  New  Yorl 

found  tTe"""^''"'  ""'  '''  «-"-^  <"■  -ngre;  t.:J 
enceof  lerfr  '" ^"''--f"^ ">-ntain  thelnde^end^ 
ence  of  the  1  ttle  community  for  which  they  acted  Thev 
"ow  resorted  to  a  cou^e  of  policy  which  placed  ^em 
.n  a  n.ore  powerful  attitude,  Ld  d'eterminec  to  „  c" 
a  comphance  with  their  demands.  The  towns  in  New 
Hampshu-e  which  had  once  been  accepted  as  a  portl 

of  the  legislature,  again  solicited   to  have  its  iuris- 
d.ct,on  extended  over  them.     This  was  done   '7L 

co::irr:hV— ih^:;-^^^ 

Ho-alltothcborden,!    Vermonters.  come  down. 
W.th  y,„r  breeches  of  deer  skin,  and  jackets  of  brown  ; 
W.th  your  red  woolen  caps.  a.d  your  moccasins,  come 
lo  ti,o gathering  summons  of  trumpet  and  driim  I 

Come  down  with  your  riflesl-let  gray  wolf  and  fo. 
Howl  on  in  the  shade  of  their  primitive  rocks ; 


m 


40() 


KTHAN  ALLEN  AND  ORKEN-MODNTAIN  UKROEB. 


York,  Vermont  boldly  claimed  that  its  boundary  line 
extended  from  the  point  where  the  Massachusetts  line 
would  touch  the  Hudson,  thence  up  that  river  to  its 

Let  the  bear  feed  swurely  from  pig-pen  and  stall ; 
Horu  '8  a  two-legged  game  for  your  powder  and  ball  I 

On  our  south  come  the  Dutchmen,  enveloped  in  greaao  ; 
And,  arming  for  battle,  while  canting  of  peace  ; 
On  our  east,  crafty  Meshech  has  gathered  his  band, 
To  hang  up  our  leaders,  and  eat  out  our  land. 

Ho  —  all  to  the  rescue  I    For  Satan  shall  work 
No  gain  for  his  legions  of  Hampshire  and  York  ! 
They  claim  our  possessions  —  the  pitiful  knaves  — 
The  tribute  tee  pay,  shall  be  prisons  and  graves  I 

Let  Clinton  and  Ten  Broek,  with  bribes  in  their  hands, 
Still  seek  to  divide  us,  and  parcel  our  lands  ;  — 
We  've  coats  for  our  traiti.rs,  whoever  they  are ; 
The  warp  is  of  feathers  —  the  filling  of  tar  I 

Does  the  "Old  Bay  State  "  threaten  ?    Does  Congress  complain 

Swarms  Hampshire  in  arms  on  our  borders  again  ? 

Bark  the  war-dogs  of  Britain  aloud  on  the  lake  ? 

Let  'em  come  I  —  what  they  can,  they  are  welcome  to  take. 

What  seek  they  among  us  ?    The  pride  of  our  wealth 
Is  comfort,  contentment,  and  labor  and  health  ; 
And  lands  which,  as  Freemen,  we  only  have  trod, 
Independent  of  all,  save  the  mercies  of  Qod. 

Yet  we  owe  no  allegiance  ;  we  bow  to  no  throne ; 
Our  ruler  is  law,  and  the  hw  is  our  own  ; 
Our  leaders  themselves  are  our  own  fellow-men, 
Who  can  handle  the  sword,  or  the  sythe,  or  the  pen. 

Our  wives  are  all  true,  and  our  daughters  are  fair. 
With  their  blue  eyes  of  smiles,  and  their  light  flowing  hair 
All  brisk  at  their  wheels  till  the  dark  even-fall, 
Then  blifhe  at  the  sleigh-ride,  the  husking,  and  ball  ! 


POETIC   APPKAL. 


407 


J^nurce,  and  from  its  source  due  north  to  th.  r       , 
J'"e,  comprising  all  th.  i      i  "®  Canada 

Lake  Charnpla.n,  thus  doubiinK 

>"«  »e  ibeep  on  the  hili-wdai  ■  ,  . 

™  °""'  '"■  *'  "•""'""-».  which  awfuUv  ri^ 
™  tbey  ,e.t  ,hei,g,ee„  head,  „„  ,he  bl  J„    .h.  .■  ■ 

Save  wh.e  .he  „i,d  path  onhe.en,pe;:'.„„. 
F«r^  ,  P^^°"  °^  fruite  and  of  flowers 

Hurra  for  Vkh^o..,  for  the  land  which  .etui 
Must  have  sons  to  defend  her  from  valleylnd  h L  • 
lave  the  ,_,,,„^ 

And  the  reap,ng  of  wheat  for  the  reaping  of  fZ 

Par  from  i:ichiscoui.s  valley,  to  where 
^oosoomsuck  steals  down  from  ),;=         ^    . 

tio—  all  to  the  tescia  t     ir  "wu,— 

ne  rescue  I     Vermonters,  come  down  I 

■■■"'""'™"'*^-'™"'«def,.«,;^„„„, 


408        KTIIAN  AIXEN  AND  (»KKKN-MOUNTAIN  IIKKOK«. 

the  former  limits  of  the  state.  XotwitliHtunding  the 
ditficultios  whicli  Burroimded  the  people  of  Vermont, 
the  New-Hampshire  towns  on  its  east  border,  and  the 
New- York  towns  on  its  western  limits,  wiiich  were 
thus  summarily  annexed,  were  eager  for  their  union 
What  arguments  could  have  been  urged  to  induce  them 
to  join  their  fortunes  with  those  of  Vermont,  it  id  not 
easy  to  imagine.  The  fact  gives,  at  all  events,  a  strik- 
ing proof  of  the  skill  of  the  trusted  leaders  of  the 
Green-Mountain  Boys. 

The  British,  ready  to  avail  themselves  of  every  ad- 
vantage which  the  Vermont  ditficulties  might  yield 
them,  were  gradually  increasing  their  force  in  Canada, 
and  another  campaign  against  the  northern  frontier 
was  unquestionably  determined  on.  The  indications 
of  this  were  alarming.  Knowing  the  effect  that  the 
apprehension  of  this  would  have  upon  the  people, 
the  British  generals  entertained  the  hope  that  they 
might  detach  Vermont  from  the  United  States  and 
make  it  a  British  possession.  In  the  expectation  of  ac- 
complishing this.  Colonel  Beverly  Johnson  wrote  a  let- 
ter to  Ethan  Allen,  .^fvted  March  30,  1780.  He  began 
his  letter  by  expressing  a  wish  that  his  proposals  might 
be  received  with  the  same  good  intention  with  which 
they  were  made.  He  then  proceeds: — "I  have  often 
been  informed  that  you  and  most  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Vermont,  are  opposed  to  the  wild  and  chimerical 
scheme  of  the  Americans  in  attempting  to  separate 
from  Great  Britain  and  establish  an  independent  gov- 
ernment of  their  own ;  and  that  you  would  willingly 
assist  in  uniting  America  to  Great  Britain,  and  in 
restoring  that  happy  constitution  so  wantonly  and 


ding  the 
f^eniiont, 
and  tho 
ch  were 
ir  union 
uce  them 
it  id  not 
,  a  etrik- 
3  of  the 

very  ad- 
ht  yield 
Canada, 
frontier 
dicatione 
that  tho 
I  people, 
hat  they 
ites  and 
on  of  ac- 
ote  a  let- 
le  began 
lis  might 
;h  which 
ive  often 
labitants 
limerical 
separate 
ent  gov- 
willingly 
I,  and  in 
•nly  and 


BKITISU  0VEKTUKE8  TO  ALLEN. 


409 


unadvisedly  destroyed.    If  Ihavebeen  rightly  informed, 
and  these  should  be  your  sentiments  and  inclination,  I 
beg  that  you  will  communicate  to  me  without  reserve, 
whatever  proposals  you  would  wish  to  make  to  the' 
commander-in-chief;  and  I  hereby  promise  that  I  will 
faithfully  lay  them  before  him  according  to  your  direc- 
tionc,  and  flutter  myself  I  can  do  it  with  as  good  effect 
as  any  person  whatever.     I  can  make  no  proposals  to 
you  until  I  know  your  sentiments ;  but  think,  upon 
your  taking  an  active  part,  and  embodying  the  inhab- 
itants  of  Vermont  under  the  crown  of  England,  you 
may  obtain  a  separate  government  under  the  king.    If 
you  should  think  proper  to  send  a  friend   here!' with 
proposals  to  the  general,  he  shall  bo  protected,  and 
allowed  to  return  whenever  he  pleases." 

Allen  communicated  the  contents  of  this  letter  to 
Governor  Chittenden,   and   it  was  decided   that   no 
answer    should    be    returned.      In    February,    1781, 
Johnson   again  wrote  to  Allen,  renewing  his  former 
pi'oposal.     Allen  communicated   these  letters  to  con- 
gross,  with  a  powerful  letter  vindicating  the  policy  of 
Vermont.     He  closed  it  with  tho  following  striking 
sentences;   "I  am   confident  that  congress  will  not 
dispute   my  sincere  attachment  to  the  cause  of  my 
country,  though  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say,  I  am  fully 
grounded  in  opinion,  that  Vermont  has  an  indubitable 
right  to  agree  on  terms  of  a  cessation  of  hostilities 
with  Great  Britain,  provided  the  United  States  persist 
in  rejecting  her  application  for  a  union  with  thera. 
For  Vermont  would  be,  of  all  people,  most  miserable, 
were  she  obliged  to  defend  the  independence  of  the 
United  claiming  States,  and  they  be,  at  the  same  time. 


i 


V. 


410 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MoUNTAIN  HE140ES. 


II  t 


l« 


at  full  liberty  to  overturn  and  ruin  the  independence  of 
Vermont.     When  concrress  consider  the  circumstances 
of  this  state,  they  will,  1  am  persuaded,  be  more  sur- 
prised that  I  have  transmitted  them  the  inclosed  letters, 
than  that  I  lia\o  kept  them  in  custody  so  long;  for  I 
am  as  resolutely  determined  to  defend  the  independ- 
ence of  Vermont,  as  congress  is  that  of  the  United 
States ;   and  rather  than  fail,  I  will  retire  with  the 
hardy  Green-Mountain  Boys  into  the  desolate  caverns 
of  the  mountains,  and  wage  war  with  human  nature 
at  large." 

Soon  after,  the  British,  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Ilaldimand,  appeared  in  great  force  at  the  north 
end  of  Lake  Champlain.    Governor  Chittenden  sent  a 
flag  of  truce,  proposing   an   exchange   of   prisoners. 
General  Haldimand  returned  a  favorable  reply,  and 
Colonel  Ira  Allen  and  Major  Joseph  Fay  were  ap- 
pomted   commissioners  on   the  part  of  Vermont,  to 
negotiate  the  exchange.     During  the  interview  with 
the  British  agents,  the  latter  renewed  the  proposal  for 
Vermont   to  place  itself  under  the    royal  authority. 
Allen   and  Fay,  without  committing  themselves,  left 
the  impression  upon  the  minds  of  the  British  generals 
that  the  proposed  arrangement  might  be  perfected. 
This  was  done  because  Vermont  had  no  other  way  of' 
protecting  itself   against  an  army  of  ten   thousand 
royal  troops,  which  had   been  poured  into   Canada. 
Accordingly,  a  formal  attempt    at    negotiation   was 
made— Allen  and  Fay  being  secretly  appointed  com- 
missioners    by    Governor    Chittenden,   and    General 
Haldimand  acting  for  the  British.     Their  negotiations 
were  continued  tbr  a  long  period,  and  their  existence 


VERMONT  LEADEK8  VINDICATED. 


411 


has  been  adduced  by  historians  as  evidence  of  a  dis- 
position on  the  part  of  the  Yerraont  leaders  to  join 
the  enemy.     The   full   history  of  these  events,  when 
properly  written,  will  show  that  the  odium  thus  cast 
upon  the  names  of  these  men  is  grossly  unjust ;  that 
they  were  not  only  inspired  by  the  purest  de-otion  to 
the  cause  of  liberty,  but  that  their  policy  actually  kept 
at  bay  a  large  hostile  army,  which  otherwise  would 
have  been  able  to  march  through  the  northern  portion 
of  the  union,  (Washington  being  employed  at  the  south.) 
and  to  crush  the  hopes  of  freedom.      The  following 
papers,  never    before    published,   which    have    been 
politely  furnished  for  these  pages  by  the  Hon.  Henry 
Stevens,  the  distinguished  and  indefatigable  Vermont 
antiquary,  from  his  very  large  and  rich  collection  of 
documents  in  reference  to  the  early  history  of  Vermont, 
will  not  only  prove  this  assertion,  but  serve  to  show,' 
when  the  history  of  Chittenden,  the  Aliens,  and  other 
Vermont  leaders  of  that  day  is  properly  viewed,  that 
chey  performed   services  in   behalf  of  their  country, 
which    entitle  them  to  the  lasting    admiration  and 
gratitude  of  those  who  enjoy  the  blessings  of  the 
freedom  which   their   servi/.es   so  greatly   aided    in 
establishing.    ]S"umber8  I.  and  H.  are  the  commis- 
sions furnished  to  Allen  and  Fay;   number  HI.  is 
General  Hal^imand's  commission  to  the  British  agent ; 
and  number  IV.  is  the  report  of  interviews  with  Allen 
and  Fay,  as  given  to  General  Haldimand  by  his  agent. 

I. 

State  of  Vermont^  June^  1781. 

Whereas  Col.  Ira  Allen  has  been  with  a  Flag  to  the 
Province  of  Quebeck  for  the  Purpose  of  settling  a 


iV2 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AJ^ID  GREEN-MOUNTAIN  HEK0E8. 


i'  f 


I 


Pni?!  )  r  ^"^'^  Prsonersand  has  used  his  best 
rohty  bjieigning  or  Kmleavouring  to  make  them 
beheve  that  the  State  of  Vermont  had  a  Desire  to  Ne- 
^ociate  a  Treaty  of  Peace  with  Brittain  -  thereby  to 
Prevent  their  Immediate  Invasion  or  Incursion  upon 

ent  oT;?  '  r  1  r'"''  f^m^^'^rs  by  the  Letter  he 
sent  to  General  Ilaklimand  Dated  May  8th  1781  In 
eosmg  a  copy  of  Col  Beverly  Robinson's  Letter  to 
i^enl  Allen  and  General  Allen's  Letter  to  Congress  aa 
also  a  Letter  of  Col.  Alien  sent  to  Congress  a^nd  the 
resolutions  of  the  Assembly  of  Vermont"  approbatn' 

States  Delivered  to  Dundas  according  to  his  Verbal 
1  epor made  us  this  Day- we  are  of  Uie  opinion    ha 
the  critical  circumstances  this  State  is  in  being  ou    of 

niTt^a  V"  ^"^^?,^.S^^^-  -d  thereby  uLble  to 
niake  that  Vigorous  Defence  we  could  wish  for-think 
It  to  be  a  Necessary  Political  manoeuver  to  save  the 
trontiers  ot  this  State. 

Jonas  Fay  Tiio's  Chittenden 

Samx  Safford  Moses  Robinson 

Saml  Robinson  Tim'y  Brownson 

Joseph  Fay  John  Fasset. 

II. 

State  of  Ver7no?it,  10  July^  1781. 

Whereas  this  State  is  not  in  union  with  the  JJnitf^d 
States  altlio'  often  Requested  &c. 

Ihis  the  British  Power  are  acquainted  with  and  are 
endeavouring  to  take  the  advantage  of  these  disputes 
?  incti  of^F  ?  ^  r--^?^^on-ntk  this  State  on^  th^ 
Principle  of  Fstablishing  it  a  British  Province -from 
various  accounts  we  are  well  assured  that  the  British 
have  a  force  in  Canada  larger  than  this  State  can  a 
present  raise  and   support  fn  the  field  and  this  sLte 
l.aving  no  assurance  of  any  assistance  from   any  or 
either  of  the  United  States  however  hard  the  Sis h 
k.rces  may  crowu  on  this  State  from  the  Province  of' 
Quebeck    by  the   advantage   of  the  waters  of  Lake 

^cnt    l,v    the  Govr  of    this    State   to  several   of  the 


mv 


ES. 

his  best 
ke  them 
e  to  Ne- 
ereby  to 
)n  upon 
-etter  he 
.781  In- 
etter  to 
gress  aa 
md  the 
obating 
several 
Yerbal 
ion  that 
•  out  of 
able  to 
—think 
tve  the 

>EN 

N 
N 


Cnited 

nd  are 

sputes 

3n  the 

-from 

British 

can  at 

State 

ny  or 

British 

ice  of 

Lake 

been 

f    thQ 


THE  BEITISU  TREAT  FOK  VERMONT.  4^3 

respective  Gov'rs  of  the  United  States  -viH,  f h 

gent  requests  to  know  whether  anvf.-  ""  '"""^  "^' 

afforded  in  such  case  Tnd  no    f."^.^f '^''^"^'^  would  be 

made  by  either  ot  them  """^  ""'^'^^  ^^^«  ^^'^ 

Wherefore  we  the  subfif^ri'lipra   a.,  r  n 
Col.  Ira  Allen  8endin,/"Ser7atoH  S     {   f'^'T'^'^ 
10th  1781  and  direc^d  to  Genorat  Iwdi™""  "'"'^ 

"re  to  prevent  fhp  T^rif^/I-  •      olitical  proceed- 

and  berr'nUtLf  ^^  tt"?:r:  U  "f  Stt  f '^ 
iviin  when  we  hnva  t^/^  ;^.    u  ^"^'^^  "^nis  fetate  from 

tbat  this  has  be  n  he':?3hes  „'  :Z:i/''  '''*"'"?"'^ 
neighbours  in  the  mean  tie  to^C  tirsr.^ 
against  anv  Insulf  nnfi'l  fj.,-.  q.  .  '''''^"8"^®^  tlie  fetate 

rnent  from^  t^e  uSd  <^^  f '''  '''t''  ^^^^^  ^reat- 
Congress  "^    ^^^^"'   «^    ^^^ain  a  seat  in 

Tko's    CniTTENiDEN  J.    Yay 

John  Fasset  fi\.,\  i:> 

im  ^  Ekownson  Jo8kp„  f^^,  ^ 

t  J/t'efn^tLTw^iffi!^  to  -ego. 

Vermont  for  the  exchanl  rT^'  ^l'"'  P^^P^^   of 

of  the  29th  Oct^btf  Tfo;'inC;7o„t"i4/r"" 

sjortfon^-lrs  r^  tt  f  ~' - 

l^sible  of  the  ^ir^^.S^^it^,^^'^::; 

JnfoterST£f«-';xn^^^^^^^^ 

svL^rrrd^n^d^^t  "rg'n  f -^^^^^ 

the  Green  Mountains,  I  alwav   Cte,  !d  rt    '^^  "*' 

which  were  taken  by'  the^S-^Zt^fJlZT:^     ' 

tbat  a  ^people  who'  during'Te  falH^r trelo^S" 
..n  every  occasion  to  oppSse  the  EnennXs  Tore-'  -^'' 
a.n   and  never  have  been  prevailed  "upon'  ro'^emta 


nil 


lillfl 


414       ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  OKEEN-MOUNTAIN  dEliOES. 


were 


tih. 


iO: 


,:■;• 


I 


themselves  from  a  Country  with  which  tl 
mately  connected  by  religion  laws  and  language  had 
their  properties  been  secured  to  them.     It  is  therefore 
with  great  cheerfulness  that  I  authorise  you  to  give 
these  people   the  most  positive  assurances  that  their 
country  will  be  erected  into  a  seperate  province,  inde- 
pendant  and  unconnected  with  every  Government  in 
America,  and  will  be  entitled  to  every  prerogative  and 
Lnmunity  which  is  promised  to  other  Provinces  in  your 
Proclamation   of  the   King's  Commissioners.     This   I 
hope  will    be  sufficient  to  remove  every  jealousy  of 
Great  Britain  wishing  to  deprive  them  of  their  Liber- 
ties or  of  my  ever  becoming  an  Instrument  to  oppress 
them.     I  sincerely  wish  to  bring  back  to  their  allegi- 
ance brave  and  unhappy  people,  so  that  they  may  en- 
joy the  Blessings   of  peace   Liberty   and   an   honest 
Industry.     From  the  report  you  made  me,  I  consider 
these  people  as  sincere  and  candid  in  their  proposi- 
tions.    I  will  therefore  act  towards  them  with  the  sin- 
cerity of  a  Soldier  unpractised  in  deceits  and  chicane, 
and  you  may  assure  them  that  I  would  be  sorry  to  en- 
gage them  in  any  enterprise  which  might  prove  ruin- 
ous to   them.     1  am  sensible  that   their  situation   is 
delicate  that  the  utmost  caution  is  necessary  not  only 
with  regard  to  the  powerful  Enemies  which  surround 
them,  but  with  regard  to  their  own  people,  whose  pre- 
judices arc  grdat  and  many,  and   who  cannot  at  first 
view,  see  the  advantages  which  will  accrue  to  America 
in  general  as  well  as  to  themselves  in  particular  from 
a  reconciliation  with  the  mother  Country.      I  am  so 
much  convinced  of  the  present  infatuation  of  these  peo- 
ple, and  so  far  removed  from  expecting  that  the  people 
with  whom  you  negotiate  will  betray  any  trust  reposed 
in  them  that  I  agree  that  this  negotiation  should  cease 
and  any  step  that  leads  to  it  be  forgotten,  provided  the 
Congress  shall  grant  the  State  of  Vermont  a  Seat  in 
their  Assembly,  and  acknowledge  its  independency.     I 
trust  that  time,  and  other  methods,  will  bring  about  a 
reconciliation,  and  a  return  to  their  allegiances,  and 
hope,  and  expect,  they  will  act  towards  me  with  the 
same  frankness  and  sincerity,  and  apprise  me  by  your 


ten; 


IRA  Allen's  negotiation. 


415 


means  of  their  intentions,  prospects  and  measures,  so 
that  1  may  be  more  able  to  assist  them. 

"In  order  to  entitle  the  Inhabitants  of  the  State  of 
Vermont  to  the  provisions  of  Half  Pay  which  His  JVI-i- 
jesty  has  been  pleased  to  make  to  the  officers  of  Pro- 
vincial Corps  who  take  arms  in  support  of  his  Govern- 
ment I  propose  to  raise  two  Battallions  consisting  of 
len  Companies  each  to  be  commanded  by  Messrs  Al- 
len and  Chittenden  or  any  other  whom  the  Governor 
and   Council  of  Vermont  shall  appoint  with  the  rank 
and  pay  of  Lieutenant  Colonels  Commandants  of  which 
I  shall  myself  be  Colonel,  but  to  which  the  Lieutenant 
Colonels  Comnriandants  shall,  subject  to  my  approba- 
tion, have  the  Appointment  of  the  Officers  and  if  the 
defence  of  the  state  should  require  it  more  will  here- 
after be  raised  on  the  same  footino-. 

.h^u'"''  ^^fi"'^^^^r  encouragement  of  the  persons  who 
shall  exert   hemselves  in  promoting  the  happy  re-union 

L^uT'^  r^'\^^'-  ^^^  ?'^^^^  appointments,  that  they 
shall  have  Gratuities  suitable  to  their  merits. 

Quebec,  20th  December,  1780."      ^'  ^^'''^'^''''^ 

IV. 

f^^^tance   of  what  passed  in    Conference  with   Col.  Ira 
Allen,  betioeen  the  8tk  and  25th  of  May,  1781.* 

f  Jof  ^  f     ^n  "^"""^  ^"^°  '^^'''  ^'^  ^^  "ot  authorised  to 
treat  of  a  Union,  but  is  verbally  instructed   by  Gov- 
ernor Chittenden  and  General  Allen  to  lay  their  prel- 
ent  situation  before  General  Ilaldimand,  an^d  to  TnC 
him  that  matters  are  not  yet  ripe  for  any  permaner^ 
proposals,  that  they  with  some  part  of  the  Counc  1  a  ^ 
vincerth'n.r^"^  '^'"'  "  neutrality,  being  fully  con! 
IZlY.^T^'T  ^^''"'  ^"^^"^^^  t«  admit  thim  as 
a  fetate,  bu    they  dare  not  make  any  agreement  with 
Britain  until  the  populace  are  better  modelled  for  the 
purpose;  wish,  however,  to  settle  a  Cartel  for  the  Ex- 
change of  Prisoners,  and  thereby  keep  open  a  door  lor 

•  Want  of  room  compels  the  omi&sion  of  a  portion  of  this  document  • 
the  raost  important  portion,  and  the  spirit  of  the  whole  are  giy^n. 


!  *l 


iElEi 


Ml     ' 


t-?' 


y  ,m; 


l!  ■  f 


)  ) 


4it3 


furth( 


KTIlAiN   ALLEN  AJS'D  GKEEN-MOU.NTAI.S   UKliOi,S. 


liscoursec 


_  logociation.  *  *    lOtb  Walked 
fully  with  Colonel  Allen,     lie  is  very  cautious  and  in- 
ti^icate.  ^  I  urged  liini  to  make  some  proposals,  telling 
him   it  is  now  in  the  power  of  Vermont  to  become  a 
Glorious  Government  under  Great  Britain  —  to  be  the 
Seat  of  peace  and  plenty,  with  fivery  degree  of  Liberty 
that  a  free  ])eople  can  wish  to  enjoy.     That  he  must 
see  General  Haldimand  had  in  his  instructions  to  me, 
conceded  every  thing  he  couM  in  reason  ask  or  expect. 
He  replied  General  Haldimand  did  not  allow  them  to 
choose  their  own  Governor,  a  privilege  they  never  couid 
relinquish  with  propriety:  that  when  they  were  ripe  for 
proposals  they  could  not  go  farther  than  Neut'-ulitv 
during  the  War,  at  the  end  of  which  they  must  as  a  sep- 
erate  Government  be  subject  to  the  then  ruling  power 
if  that  power  would  give  them  a  free  Charter  in  every 
sense  of  the  word  ;  but  if  not,  they  would  return  to 
the  Mountains,  turn  Savages,  and  fight  the  Devil,  Hell 
and    Huniiiu  Nature  at  large.     I  told  him  Vermont 
could  not  accomplish  those  extravagant  flights  :    *     * 
I  did   not  pretend   to  know  how  far  these  Chimeras 
might  intimidate  Congress,  but   I   could  assure  him 
General  Haldimand  had  too  much  experience  and  good' 
sense  to  take  any  further  notice  of  them  than   by  that 
Contempt  they  meritted.     Colonel  Allen  now  began  to 
reason  with  more  coolness,  and  made  up  a  long  chain 
of  arguments  advanced  by  General  Allen  to  me  at 
Castletown.     I  told  him  those  arguments  had  already 
been  exhibited  to  General  Haldimand,  and  were  then 
satisfactory  to  him,  but  I  was  certain  the  General  would 
now  expect  some  further  advances ;  would  therefore 
advise  him,  if  he  could  not  make  any  propositions  in 
behalf  of  Vermont  to  give  his  Excellency  some  reasons 
why  he  did  not.    The  conversation  again  became  warm 
and  spirited. 


* 


-X- 


* 


* 


* 


"  11th,  Colonel  Allen  observed  he  did  not  think  the 
])arliament  had  passed  any  Act  in  favor  of  Vermont.  I 
answered  I  did  not  think  the  Parliament  of  Great  Britain 
lias  yej  considered  Vermont  of  consequence  enough 
to  engross  the  attention  of  that  Assembly.    He  replied 


Lscoursed 
8  and  in- 

)ecome  a 
to  be  the 
f  Liberty 
he  must 
18  to  me, 
r  expect, 
them  to 
^er  could 
J  ripe  for 
eutnditv 
as  .'I  st'p- 
\g  power 
in  every 
iturn  io 
vil,  Hell 

^Termont 

•    *     * 

• 

Chimeras 
nre  him 
md  good' 

by  that 
began  to 
ig  chain 
)  me  at 

already 
ere  then 
al  would 
herefore 
tions  in 

reasons 
le  warm 

link  the 

nont.    I 

;  Britain 

enough 

replied 


LNTERVIEW  WITH  ENGLISH  AGE.NT. 


4)V 


in  his  opinion  Vermont  must  bo  considered  of  conse- 
quence enough  to  engross  the  attention  of  Parliament 
before  any  permanent  Union  can  take  place  between 
Great  Britain  and  that  people.     12th.  This  day  had  a. 
long  and  very  friendly  conference  with.  Colonel"  Allen. 
He  seems  anxious  to  convince  me  that  a  respectable 
number  of  the  leading-Men  of  Vermont  are  endeavour- 
ing to  bring  about  a  Union  by  way  of  Neutrality. 
He  appears  less  reserved,  and  again  repeated  the  Ar- 
guments advanced  by  General  Allen  respecting  the 
impossibility  of  an    Union  with  Great  Britain  "until 
Verrnont   had   fortified  herself  against  the  neighbour- 
ing States  by  a  firm  internal  Union  and  observed  they 
must  firmly  unite  the  extra  Territories  lately  taken  in 
and  form  the  population  into  a  proper  system  for  such 
a  revolution.    *    *    *  Allen  thinks  when  the  Western 
Union  is  complete  they  can  raise  Ten  Thousand  fighting 
Men.     He  says  this  great  and  sudden  revolution  has 
been  brought  about  upon  the  principles  of  an  Union 
with  Great  Britain,  or  at  least  of  Vermont  being  a  neu- 
tral power  during  the  War.     Allen  does  not  aggree 
with  Mr.  Johnson  that  the  Majority  wish  to  compromise 
with  Britain,  but  says  their  prejudices  are  yet  so  great 
tiiat  it  would  not  be  safe  to  propose  it  but  to  a  few  of 
the  i)opulation  and  they  have  not  yet  dared  to  mention 
it  to  half  of  the  ruling*^Men. 

^  13th.  Colonel  Allen  still  appears  desirous  to  con- 
vince me  that  the  principal  Men  in  Vermont  are  striv- 
ing to  prepare  the  people  for  a  change  in  favour  of 
Government.  He  wishes  me  to  represent  every  thing 
in  the  most  favourable  manner  to  the  General  and 
hopes  he  will  not  be  impatient.  He  says  it  is  as  requi- 
site the  peoy/le  should  be  prepossessed  against  the  pro- 
ceedings of  Congress  before  they  are  "invited  to  a 
Union  with  Britain  as  it  is  for  a  Christian  New  light 
to  be  perfectly  willing  to  be before  he  can  be- 
come a  true  Convert.  This  Evening  Mr.  Allen  ob- 
served tiie bustles  among  the  powers  of  Europe 

w^uld,  within  six  Months  change  the  face  of  American 
Affairs  but  did  not  know  nor  caro,  whether  for  the 
better  or  worse.     I  replied   he  must  have  a  predom- 


41S 


ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  ORKKN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


'^1 


(■<  1 


I      i 


WK  I 


ri' 


i 


inarit  wish  as  Neutrality  was,  in  principle,  in  my  opin- 
ion inadnnssai.le.  Fie  said  he  should  not  deny  but 
principle  inclined  him  and  Vermont  in  general  for  the 
success  ot  America  but  interest  and  self-preservation 
It  t.ongres8  continued  to  oppress  them,  more  strongly 
inclined  them  to  wish  for  the  success  of  Great  Britain, 
and  light  like  Devils  against  their  oppressors,  be  thev 
who  they  might. 

********* 
''15th.  Colonel  Allen  seems  exceedingly  anxious  to 
return  and  otten  says  his  presence  will  be  very  neces- 
sary at  the  next  Assembly,  as  they  will  not  know  how 
to  proceed  until  they  hear  what  he  has  to  report  from 
Oreneral  Haldimand. 

"18th.    I  endeavoured  to  persuade  Colonel  Allen  to 
make  some  overtures  to  General  Haldimand  but  he 
still  says  he  is  not  authorised  and  cannot  do  any  thing 
ot  the  kind.     He  thinks  the  General  will  be  convinced 
;y  the  reason  he  has  given  in  Meriting  that  the  leaders 
in   Vermont  are  doing  all  that  is  possible  to  effect  an 
ur'''"i  ?'   ?^e"t''ality,  and    that   General  Allen   was 
obliged  lor  his  own  safety,  to  send  Colonel  Robinson's 
J.etters  to  Congress,  as  it  M-as  previously  known  in 
public  that  such  Letters  had  been  sent  to  him.*     *     * 
"23rd.  Col^^nel  Allen  expatiates  on  the  dangers  and 
difhculties  attending  the  bringing  about  a  Re-union  as 
a  number  of  the  Council,  and  the  major  part  of  the 
Legislature  have  not  as  yet  the  least  idea  of  anything 
larther  than  neutrality,  and  many  of  them  are  ignorant 
ot  that      lie  expresses  fears  that  it  will  not  be\accom- 
plished  though  he  sincerely  wishes  it  may.     He  still 
thinks  the  principles  on  which  America  first  took  arms 
were  just,  but  he  sees,  with  regret,  that  Congress  has 
.earned  to  play  the  Tyrant,  and  is  convinced  that  it  ia 
lor  the  interest  and   safety  of  Vermont  to  accept  of 
General  Ha  dimand's  terms.    I  told  him  he  talked  well, 
but  1  wished  he  had  said  as  much  when  he  first  arrived 
tor  however  convinced  I  may  be  of  his  candour  the 
change  gave  some  room  for  suspicion  that  he  now  acts 
from  desig.i.     He  replied   that  General   Haldimand's 
candour  demands  the  same  from  him,  and  that  he  has 


INTKKVIKW  WITH  ENGLISH  AOENT. 


419 


^L  f  1  ./'  eentwiicnts,  but  only  throws  them  out 
moie  freely  han  he  at  hrnt  intended  till  he  had  farther 
nstiucfione  from  his  Lmployers,  but  the  candid  open 
manner  m  which  the  General  had  written  forbid  his 
acting  with  any  dieguise. 

f\nJa^^''  ^.""^T^  ^^^""l  '""'^  *^^  «^"^«  in  conversa- 
tion as  yesterday,  but  observes  that  he  knows  the  Gen- 

era!  will  very  soon  hear  what  reports  he  makes,  and 
how  he  conducts  himself  after  he  gets  home,  he  wishes 
me  clearly  to  inform  the  General  with  the  method   he 
must  take  to  comply  with  his  demand  of  undeceiving 
the  other  States  respecting  the  Truce,  &c.     He  says  hS 
must,  as  far  as  he  dares  possess  the  minds  of  the  peo- 
ple with  tlie  idea  of  a  re-union.  He  shall  therefore  tell 
their  ow-n  Ofhcers  Commanding  at  Castletown  that  he 
cannot  tell  what  may  take  place,  but  they  must  keep 
themse  ves  in  readiness  for  all  events.    But  to  the  other 
btates  he  shall  positively  declare  that  no  Truce  nor 
probability  of  one   subsists   between   General    Haldi- 
mand  and  Vermont,  and  this  he  should  have  done  for 
their  own  safety.     But  in  compliance  with  the  Gen- 
eral  s  desire  he  shall  be  very  particular  in  this  declara- 
tion. 

'25th.  I  communicated  C't.  Matthews'  letter  to  Col- 
onel Allen  respecting  News.     He  says  the  News  gives 
him  no  further  anxiety  than  to  excite  in  him  a  desire 
to  know  how  this  war  will  terminate  for  under  the  pre- 
sent uncertainty  of  Vermont,  he  does  not  know  whether 
this   News   18   favorable   or   otherwise.     But  he  well 
knows  that  he  and  his  Family  have  large  Fortunes 
which  they  do  not  intend  to  lose,  if  there  is  a  possibility 
of  saving  them.      At  all  risks  he  is  determined  that 
Congress  shall  not  have  the  parcelling  of  his  Lands  to 
their  avaricious  Minions.     I  then  shewed  him  C't  Mat- 
thews' Letter  of  the  General's  sentiments.     He  appeared 
very  much  pleased  with  it,  and  engaged  his  honor  that 
the  General  should  hear  from  their  Assembly  by  the 
20th  of  next  July  and  as  much  sooner  as  possible,  but 
did  not  think  he  should  be  able  to  send  any  certain  ac- 
count of  the  result  until  that  time,  as  they  are  not  to 
assemble  till  about  the  middle  of  June  and  must  sit 


420 


KTIIAN  ALLLN  AND  OKKEN-MOUNTAIN  HEUOFJS. 


Pi 
s 


Eometune  lu-fi,  -o  the  Business  coulcl  k-  fUirly  opened  to 
the  whole   II..U8e,  after  which  it  w.mM  neeessurily  oc- 
casion  \on<r  an.l  wann  Debates  let  it  turn  out  as  it  niiifht 
in  the  en. I      Mr.  Allen  and   myself  have  agreed  on  a 
signal  tor  his  Messenger,  wliich  we  put  in  w-riting  and 
H>tli  signed.     Should  (ieneral  Ilaldi.uand  find  it  abso- 
utely  necessary  to  send  a  private  Express  to  Vermont, 
Colonel  Men  desires  ,t  may  he  by  a  n.an  of  trust  who 
may, be   directed   to  make   himself  known,  either  to 
Governor  Chittenden  Clonel  Allen  or  General  Allen 
or  one  ot  the  following  (Jentlemen   Colonel  Brownson 
Dr.  lay  Judge  taut  or  VX  Lyon.     The  Contents  of  the 
message  should  be  a  secret  to  the  Messenger  written  on 
a  small  piece  of  paper,  which  he  should  be  directed  to 
swallow,  or  otherwise  destroy  if   in   danger  of  being 
taken  by  a  scout  from  Kew  York  and  he  should  be  very 
caretui  to  shun  the  Vermont  Scouts.     On  these  condi- 
tions  Col.  Allen  engaged  that  the  Messenger  shall  be 
immediately  sent  back.     Colonel  Allen  atfer  express- 
ing inuch  satisfaction  with  the  polite  treatment  he  had 
received  embarked  about  12  o'clock. 

These  negotiations  were  maintained  until  the  close 
of  the  war;  Ira  Allen,*  the  principal  agent  in  the 
at!air,  always  finding  a  plausible  reason  for  postponing 
final  and  decisive  action.  But  while  he,  and  a  few 
others,  were  thus  successful  in  preventing  any  hostile 
movement  against  the  northern   frontier  of  the  United 

•  Ira  Allen  was  born  in  1752.  He  went  to  Vermont  at  a  very  early 
age.  After  the  establisb.nent  of  the  ^rovernment,  he  was  the  fii-st  secrc- 
tary  of  state.  Subsequently  he  was  treasurer,  member  of  the  council  and 
Burveyor-peneral.  He  rose  to  the  rank  of  major-general  of  militia,  and 
in  1795  went  to  Europe  to  purchase  arms  for  the  supply  of  his  state 
Returning  with  several  thousand  muskets,  and  some  cannon,  he  was  cap- 
tured  by  an  English  vessel  and  carried  to  England,  where  he  was  accused 
of  supplying  the  Irish,  then  in  open  rebellion,  with  arms.  A  litigation 
of  eight  years,  in  the  court  of  admiralty,  was  the  consequence-  but  a 
final  decision  was  made  in  his  favor.  Hedied  at  Philadelphia.  January 
7.  1814.  aged  G2  years.  ^  ^ 


IKA    AIXKM. 


421 


States,  the  i)eoplo  at  larfre  were  in  entire  i^aioranco 
concerning  tlio  necrotiatioim  which  were  carried  on,  al- 
though agents  were,  during  the  whole  progress  t)t''the 
affair,  passing  and  repassing  the  borders, 

Vermont,  after  completing  its  eastern  and  western 
armies,  sent  delegates  to  congress  to  again  undertake 
to  have  the  state  admitted   into  the  union.     In  1781 
congress  appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with  them, 
but   adopted   a  resolution,  declaring  that  the  negotia- 
tion of  the  independence  of  Vermont  could  not  take 
place,  unless  the  state  should  recede  to  its  former  limits, 
and  relinquish  its  claim  to  the  territory  which  it  had 
acquired  from  New  Hampshire  on  the  east,  and  New 
York  on  the  west.     Vermont  at  first  refused   to  do  so, 
but  at  this  juncture.  General  Washington   opened  a 
correspondence  with  Governor  Chittenden  on  the  sub- 
ject, and  the  candor,  good  sense,  and  conciliatory  style 
of  the  Father  of  his  Country,  effected  what  congress 
could  not  have  done,  and  Vermont  finally  consented  to 
comply  with  the  requirement  in  regard  to  its  bounda- 
ries.   But  after  this  had  been  done,  congress  found 
occasion  to  defer  its  final  action  in  regard  to  the  admis- 
sion of  Vermont  into  the  union. 

Notwithstanding  the  unsettled  and  embarrassing 
state  of  her  relations  to  congress  and  the  neighboring 
states,  the  internal  tranquillity  of  Vermont  had  been*^ 
for  some  time,  but  little  disturbed.  Her  political  insti- 
tutions  had  been  gradually  maturing,  and  the  organi- 
zation of  her  government  had  assumed  a  regularity  and 
efficiency  which  commanded  the  obedience  and  respect 
of  the  great  body  of  the  citizens.  New  York  had  not 
reliapuishcd  her  claim  to  jurisdiction  over  the  territory, 


422         ETHAN  ALLKN  AND  OUEEN-MOUNTAIN  UEU0E8. 


iff- 

I 


\l 


If 


V  i  I 


li<M 


'I; 


i  • 


but  she  Imd  not,  of  late,  made  any  Rerious  effort 
to  exercise  it ;  and  iiad  contented  herself  with  opposing 
the  admission  of  Vermont  into  the  union,  and  by  en- 
deavoring, in  the  manner  we  have  just  related,  to  bring 
over  the  })eople  to  her  own  interest.  But  while  a  vast 
majority  of  the  people  of  Vermont  yielded  a  willing 
obedience  to  her  authority,  and  were  ready  to  make 
almost  any  sacrifice  to  sustain  her  independence  and 
governmeiit,  there  were  oome  among  her  citizens  whose 
submisf.ion  was  reluctant,  and  who  were  ready  to 
emb»^ace  any  favorable  opportunity  to  renounce  their 
allegiance  and  support  the  claims  of  New  York. 

This  opposition  was  principally  confined  to  the  town 
of  Guilford  — at  that  period  the  most  populous  village 
in  the  state.     The  two  parties  in  this  town,  (the  friends 
of  Vermont  and    those  of  New  York,)  had  each   an 
organization   of  their  town  ;  and,  in  some  cases,  there 
were  two  sets  of  town-officers.    Between  these,  skirm- 
ishes often  occurred,  which  not  nnfrequently  ended  in 
bloodshed.    The  enmity  of  these  parties  was  carried  to 
an  alarming   extent  during  the  years  1783  and  1784. 
Social  order  was  entirely  at  an  end  ;  and  even  physi- 
cians were  not  allowed  to  pursue  their  avocations,  with- 
out procuring  a  pass  from  the  several  committees.    In 
this  unpleasant  state  of  affairs,  General  Ethan  Allen 
was  directed  to  call  out  the  militia,  for  the  purpose  of 
enforcing  the  laws,  and  of  suppressing  the  symptoms 
of  civil  war  exhibited  among  the  people  of  Windham 
county.      In    accordance  with    these   directions,  ho 
marched  from  Bennington  with  a  force  of  about  one 
hundred  Green-Mountain  Boys  ;  and,  upon  his  arrival  at 
Guilford,  he  issued  the  following  unique  proclamation  * 


ETHAN   ALUU    AN    AUTUOK. 


423 


ho 


"I,  Ethan  Allen,  doclaro,  that  unless  the  peoj.Io  of 
Guilford  peaceably  submit  to  the  authority  of  Ver- 
mont, 1  will  make  the  town  as  desolate  as  were  the 
cities  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah!"  After  some  resist- 
ance, from  the  adherents  of  New  York,  Allen  was 
enabled  to  enforce  their  subjection  to  the  laws  of 
Vermont. 

Affairs  continued  in  this  condition  until  1789,  when 
liberal  councils  prevailed  in  New  York,  and  the  legis- 
lature consented  to  the  independence  of  Vermont 
Inero  was  no  further  obstacle  to  the  admission  of  Ver- 
mo  into  the  union,  and  on  the  4th  of  March,  1791, 
the  .  spicious  end  to  all  the  difficulties  which  had 
attended  the  organization  of  the  new  state,  was 
formally  announced. 

Previous  to  the  admission  of  Vermont  into  the  un- 
ion, Ethan  Allen  was  actively  engaged  in  the  main- 
tenance of  the  rights  of  the  people  he  loved  so  well, 
and   of   the   state  which   his  exertions   had   been  so 
greatly  instrumental  in  founding.     After  that  event,  he 
retired  to  private  life,  and  in  the  intervals  of  relaxa- 
tion from  business,  wrote  a  work  entitled,  "Reason  the 
only  Oracle  of  Man,"  the  aim  of  which,  we  regret  to 
say,  was  to  controvert  the  truths  of  revealed  religion. 
He  gave  great  attention  to  its  composition,  and^'was' 
very  proud  of  it.    He  had   been  for  many  years  in 
the  habit  of  making  memoranda  of  his  thoughts  on 
the  subject,  and   evidently  believed   his  work  would 
subvert  Christianity.    Its   style  was  the  same  wl-'ch 
characterized    his   political  pamphlets  — bold,   artful, 
egotistical  and   unpolished,  but  evincing  remarkably 
strong  mental  powers.    Only  one  edition  was  over 


i.^l 


424        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GEEEN-MOUNTAIN  HEROES. 


I  ! 


iiif 


published,  and  the  greater  portion  of  that  was  destroyed 
by  the  burning  of  the  oflBce  in  which  it  was  printed. 
It  is  now  rarely  to  be  met  with,  and  the  existence 
of  th°.  work  upon  which  Ethan  Allen  confidently 
relied  for  enduring  fame,  is  scarcely  known  to  one 
in  a  thousand  of  those  who  remember  with  patriotic 
pride,  the  sturdy  Hero  of  Ticonderoga. 

A  very  affecting  story  has  long  been  current  in  con- 
nection with  Ethan  Allen's  peculiar  views  concerning 
religion.  It  is  that  one  of  his  daughters  who  had  been 
instructed  in  the  principles  of  Christianity  by  a  pious 
mother,  when  about  to  die,  expressed  a  desire  to  see 
her  father.  When  he  appeared  at  her  bedside,  she 
said  to  him,  "I  am  about  to  die  —  shall  I  go  to  my 
grave  with  the  principles  you  have  taught  me,  or  shall 
I  believe  what  my  mother  has  taught  me  ? "  His  re- 
ply, it  is  said,  was,  "Believe  what  your  mother  has 
taught  you!"  The  anecdote,  although  often  quoted, 
as  a  striking  illustration  of  the  inefficiency  of  infidelity 
on  the  death-bed,  and  the  consolation  that  is  afforded 
by  a  strong  religious  faith  at  such  a  time,  has  not,  it  is 
asserted  by  Allen's  family,  any  foundation  in  truth. 

Notwithstanding  his  views  on  religion,  Allen  was  a 
thorouglily  honest  man,  and  detested  any  thing  like 
falsehood  or  meanness.  On  one  occasion,  an  individ- 
ual to  whom  he  was  indebted  had  commenced  a  suit 
against  him.  Alien  being  unable  to  pay  the  debt, 
employed  a  lawyer  to  have  the  execution  of  legal 
process  against  him  postponed  for  a  short  period.  As 
an  easy  measure  tc  effect  this,  and  throw  the  case  over 
to  tlie  next  session  of  the  court,  the  lawyer  denied  the 
genuineness  of  the  signature ;  Allen,  who  was  present 


A.LLEN8    SECOND    C0UET8HIP. 


425 


stepped  angrily  forward,  and  oxclaimed  to  liib  aston 
ished  counsel,  "Sir,  I  did  not  employ  you  to  come 
here  and  lie  ;  I  wish  you  to  tell  the  truth.  The  note 
is  a  good  one — the  signature  is  mine  ;  all  I  want  is 
for  the  court  to  grant  me  sufficient  time  to  make  the 
payment!"      It  is  almost  needless  to  add  that  the 

plaintiff  acceded  to  his  wish.  

General  Allen,  who  had  at  vai.ous  times  resided  at 
Bennington,  Arlington  and  Tinmouth,  at  last  took  up 
his  residence  on  the  Winooski.      His   first  wife  had 
never  removed  from  Connecticut,  but  died  there  dur- 
ing the  war.    His  courtship  of  his  second   wife  was 
characteristic.     During  a  session  of  the  court  at  "West- 
minster, Allen  appeared  with   a  magnificent  pair  of 
horses   and  a  black  driver.     Chief  Justice  Robinson 
and   Stephen  R.  Bradley,  an   eminent  lawyer,  were 
there,  and  as  their  breakfast  was  on  the  table,  they 
asked  Allen  to  join  them.    He  replied  that  he  had 
breakfasted,  and  while  they  were  at  the  table,  he  would 
go  in  and  see  Mrs.  Buchanan,  a  handsome  widow  who 
was  at  the  house.     He  entered  the  sitting-room,  and  at 
once  said  to  Mrs.  Buchanan,  "  Well,  Fanny,  if  we  are 
to  be  married,  let  us  be  about  it."    ^'-Yery  well,"  she 
promptly  replied,  "give  me  time  to  fix  up."    In  a  few 
minutes  she  was  ready,  and  Judge  Robinson  was  at 
once  called  upon  by  them  to  perform  the  customary  cer- 
emony.   Said  Allen,  "Judge,  Mrs.  Buchanan  and  J 
have  concluded  to  be  married  ;  I  don't  care  much  about 
the  ceremony,  and  as  near  as  I  can  fiijtd  out,  Fanny 
cares  as  little  for  it  as  I  do ;  but  as  a  decent  respect  for 
the  customs  of  society  require  it  of  us,  we  are  willing 
to  have   the  ceremony  performed."    The  gentlemen 


'm 


42()        ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GREEN-MODNTAIN  HEROES. 

Vresent  were  much  surprised,  and  Judge  Robinson  re- 
plied, "General  Allen,  this  is  an  important  matter; 
have  you  thought  seriously  of  it?"  "Yes,  yes,"  ex- 
claimed Allen,  looking  at  Mrs.  Buchanan,  "but  it 
don't  require  much  thought."  Judge  Robinson  then 
rose  from  his  seat  and  said,  "Join  your  hands  together. 
Ethan  Allen,  you  take  this  woman  to  be  your  lawful 
and  wedded  wife  :  you  promise  to  love  and  protect  her 

according  to  the  law  of   God   and  »    "Stop, 

stop,  Judge.  The  law  of  God,"  said  Allen,  looking 
forth  upon  the  fields,  "all  nature  is  full  of  it.  Yes,  go 
on.  My  team  is  at  the  door."  As  soon  as  the  cere- 
mony was  ended,  General  Allen  and  his  bride  entered 
his  carriage  and  drove  oflT.* 

Allen  conversed  much  on  the  subject  of  religion,  and 
expressed  his  skeptical  views  on  all  convenient  occa- 
sions.     At  one  time,  while  he  was  in  Westminster, 
Judge  Sessions  and  Stephen  R.  Bradley,  who  were 
zealous  Christians,  were  discussing  the  affairs  of  the 
church.    Allen,  who   entered   the   room  at  the  time, 
interrupted  them  by  an  argument  against  the  divine 
origin  of  the  Bible.    Judge  Sessions,  not  liking  to  hear 
his  reasons,  said,  "  Mr.  Bradley,  I  think  we  had  better 
retire,  and  not  hear  this  man  talk."    Allen  exclaimed, 
"Deacon  Sessions,  you  belong  to  the  church  militant-- 
I  belong  to  the  church  military  ;  and  without  that,"  he 
continued  with  an  oath,  "you  can  never  belong  to  the 
church  triumphant ! " 
General  Allen's  kindness  of  heart  was  proverbial, 

•  Thm  anecdote  is  giren  on  the  autho.ity  of  Hon.  William  C.  Bradley 
(^on  of  «teplu.M  R.  Bradley.)  formerK  a  member  of  congress  from' 
\  erujoMt,  wh.,  w.ns  present  with  his  futber  on  the  occasion. 


\h 


ALLEN  8   KIND.VESS   AND   1  ATRIOTISM. 


427 


*nd  he  was  always  ready  to  afibrd  relief  to  the  suffer- 
ing.    At  one  time,  two  little  girls,  daughters  of  one  of 
the  pioneers  of  Vermont,  wandered   into  the  woods 
The  distressed  parents,  with  a  few  neighbors,  com- 
menced   a  search,  which  was  continued   through  the 
night  without  success.    The  next  day  a  large  number 
of  persons  from  the  neighboring  towns  joined  them, 
and  the  search  was  continued  till  the  afternoon  of  the 
third  day,  when  it  was  relinquished,  and  the  people 
who  had  been  out  were  about  to  return  to  their  homes 
Among  them,  however,  was  one  who  thought  the  search 
should  not  be  abandoned  ;  and  this  was  Ethan  Allen. 
He  mounted  a  stump,  and  soon  all  eyes  were  fixed  upon 
him.    In  his  laconic  manner,  he  pointed  to  the  father 
and  mother  of  the  lost  children -now  petrified  with 
grief  and  despair -bade  each  individual  present,  and 
especially  those  who  were  parents,  make  the  case  of 
these  parents  his  own,  and  then  say  whether  they  could 
go  contentedly  to  their  homes  without  one  further  eff-ort 
to  save  those  dear  little  ones,  who  were,  probably,  now 
alive,  but  perishing  with  hunger,  and  spending  their 
last  strength  in  crying  to  father  and  mother  to  give 
them  something  to  eat.    As  he  spoke,  his  giant  frame 
was  agitated -the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks,  and 
HI  the  assembly  of  several  hundred  men,  but  few  eyes 
were  dry.    «ri]  go!  I'll  go!"- was  at  length  heard 
from  every  part  of  the  crowd.    They  betook  themselves 
to  the  woods,  and  before  night  the  lost  children  were 
restored  in  safety  to  the  arms  of  the  distracted  parents. 
In  all  the  trying  scenes  of  Allen's  life  — in  all  the 
vicissitudes  of  a  protracted  and  cruel  captivity -he 
was  never  forgetful  of  the  rights  of  his  fellow-men,  or 


428  '    ETHAN  ALLEN  AND  GEEEN-MOUWTAIN  HEROES. 


I 


of  the  cause  of  his  country's  liberty.  He  nobly  spurned, 
as  unworthy  of  the  principles  which  governed  him,  the 
honors  which  were  offered  him  to  join  the  royal  stand- 
ard. He  stood  firmly  by  his  country,  even  while  it 
frowned  upon  the  course  of  his  adopted  state—  and  his 
memory  will  ever  be  cherished  by  a  free  and  grateful 
people.  He  died  at  Burlington,  Vt.,  Feb.  12th,  1789. 
of  apoplexy,  while  yet  in  the  full  vigor  and  maturity  of 
manhood,  and  his  remains  rest  in  a  beautiful  valley 
near  the  Winooskie,  where  his  grave  is  surrounded  by 
those  of  many  of  his  kindred.  A  plain  marble  tablet 
marks  the  spot,  upon  which  is  the  following  inscription  : 

The 

Corporeal  Part 

of 

\  Gen.  Ethan  Allen, 

rests  beneath  this  stone 

he  died 

the  12th  day  of  February,  1789, 

a^ed  50  yeare. 

His  spirit  tried  the  mercies  of  his  God, 

In  whom  he  believed  and  strongly  trusted. 

(Note  Referred  to  on  Page  346.) 

When  Sparks  was  writing  his  biographies,  he  visited  the  spot, 
and  found  in  the  vicinity  an  old  soldier,  who  was  an  eye-witness  to 
the  tragedy,  and  says:  "Miss  M'Crea  was  shot,  tomahawked,  and 
sealped  by  an  Indian."  Gen.  Morgan  Lewis,  who  was  at  the  investi- 
gation of  the  affair,  had,  at  the  time,  and  who  was  also  consulted  by 
Mr.  Sparks,  fully  confirmed  the  old  soldier's  story.  The  best  evi- 
dence, therefore,  is  in  favor  of  the  old  version  of  this  tragic  event. 


,.SA5K^^G^ 


#> 


3. 

purned, 
im,  the 
[  stand- 
i^hile  it 
and  his 
grateful 
I,  1789, 
rity  of 

valley 
ded  by 

tablet 
iption  : 


he  spot, 
tness  to 
ed,  and 
investi- 
ilted  by 
•est  evi- 
!vent. 


